The  Story 


of  THE 


Immanuel  Lutheran  Church 

1853—1928 


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HISTORICAL.  SI 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 

in  2012  with  funding  from 

University  of  Illinois  Urbana-Champaign 


http://www.archive.org/details/storyofimmanuellOObeng 


Parish  House  and  Parsonage  of  the  Immanuel  Lutheran  Church 

Elmdale  and  Greenview  Avenues,  Chicago 


The  Story 

of  the 

Immanuel  Lutheran  Church 

Published  in  connection  with  the 

Seventy-Fifth  Anniversary  Celebration 

of  the 

Evangelical  Lutheran  Immanuel  Church 

of  Chicago 
January  8—16,  1928 


LIBRARY  U.  0?  I.  URBANA-CHAMPAIfiN 


HEV.  C.  O.   UENGTSON   AM)   FAMILY 


B^fdlo 


s 


r  ore  word 

The  records  of  the  past  contain  a  beautiful  Immanuel  story.  It  is  a  story 
of  God's  wonderful  loving  kindness.  It  is,  as  well,  a  story  of  faith  and  love,  of 
prayers  and  labors,  on  the  part  of  many  devout  followers  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 

The  circumstances  connected  with  the  present  humble  attempt  to  tell  the 
story,  and  the  limitations  which  the  size  and  plan  of  this  little  book  impose,  have 
made  it  necessary  to  leave  many  interesting  incidents  untouched.  Whether  or 
not  the  best  choice  of  material  has  been  made,  must  be  left  to  the  judgmenl 
of  others. 

The  sources  of  the  material  which  has  been  used  are  mainly  "Korsbaneret" 
for  the  years  1881  and   1882,  "Minnesskrift,"  and  the  Church   Records. 

Those  who  have  aided  in  the  publication  of  this  lunik  have  given  splendid 
service,  and  deserve  most  hearty  thanks. 

C.  O.  Bengtson. 


J)H.  KIM. AM)  CARLSSON 


DR.  i:\HI.  A.  EVALD 


The  Story  of  The  Immanuel  Lutheran  Church 


C.  0.  BENGTSON 


American  Lutheran  Beginnings 


HE  LUTHERAN  CHURCH  OF  AMERICA  is  no  exotic,  trans- 
planted from  n  foreign  shore,  hut  it  is  a  native  of  this  conti- 
nent. It  is  not  the  church  of  any  one  of  the  numerous  hinds, 
whence  its  members  have  originally  come,  and  to  which  it 
is  indebted  for  much  thai  it  joyfully  appropriates,  but  it  is  as 
independent  ;is  is  the  United  Slates  of  the  country  which  has 
given  to  it  its  institutions,  its  laws,  and  its  literature." — II.  E.  Jacobs. 

The  first  Lutheran  settlers  in  America  came  from  Holland  in 
1(123.  They  settled  in  what  is  now  Albany,  X.  V.  Two  years  later 
(1G25)  others  came  and  settled  on  the  present  site  of  Xew  York  City. 

The  first  Lutherans  to  organize  congregations,  build  churches, 
and  conduct  public  worship  were  the  Swedes.  They  began  to  arrive 
in  1637.  The  first  hook  translated  into  the  language  of  the  American 
Indians  was  Luther's  Small  Catechism.  It  was  translated  by  the 
Swedish  pastor  John  Campanius. 

The  leader  of  greatest  prominence  in  the  early  Lutheran  Church 
was  Henry  Melchoir  Muhlenberg,  the  "Lutheran  patriarch,"  a  notable 
figure  of  the  Revolutionary  period.  He  was  the  father  of  the  famous 
"Fighting  Parson"  of  Virginia  and  of  the  first  Speaker  of  the  House 
of  Congress.  He  came  to  America  from  Germany,  at  the  age  of  thirty- 
two,  in  1742.  In  1748  he  organized  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  Minis- 
terium  of  Pennsylvania  and  Adjacent  States,  the  first  Lutheran  synod 
in  America. 

By  1820  several  other  district  synods  had  been  organized,  l'.c- 
presentatives  of  five  such  synods  met  in  Hagerstown,  Maryland,  in 
that  year  and  organized  the  General  Synod  of  the  Lutheran   Church 


in  America.     As   new  synods   were    formed   most    of   them   joined    this 
general  body,  until  in  1860  it  embraced  twenty-six  district  synods. 

"In  1638  there  were  fifty  Lutherans  in  this  country.  A  hundred 
years  later  (1738)  there  were  five  thousand;  two  hundred  years 
later  (1838)  there  were  seventy-five  thousand;  today  there  are  over 
two  million." — C.  A.  Wendell. 

Beginnings  in  Chicago 

The  first  Lutheran  Church  in  Chicago  was  Organized  by  Germans 
in  1846. 

By  that  time  quite  a  number  of  Scandinavians  had  settled  in  the 
city.  A  kind  of  congregation  was  organized  among  them  in  1847.  and 
a  church  building  was  started  on  Superior  Street,  between  La  Salic 
and  Wells  Streets.  A  considerable  amount  of  money  was  collected. 
six  hundred  dollars  of  which  was  contributed  by  kindhearted  Ger- 
man Lutherans  in  St.  Louis. 

The  leader  of  the  venture  was  a  man  named  Gustaf  Smith,  an 
adventurer,  who,  though  not  ordained,  posed  as  a  clergyman.  Soon 
the  members  began  to  suspect  that  all  was  not  well.  When  he  became 
aware  of  this,  he  absconded  with  the  funds.  Shortly  thereafter  a 
violent  storm  nearly  wrecked  the  partially  completed  building.  Grave 
dissension  arose  and  the  whole  venture  ended  as  a  fiasco. 

A  number  of  the  Norwegians  had,  from  the  first,  been  distrustful 
of  Mr.  Smith.  They  turned  for  leadership  to  a  man  named  Paul  An- 
dersen, who  visited  Chicago  at  intervals  and  conducted  divine  serv- 
ices. At  the  time  he  was  a  student  at  Beloit  College,  a  Presbyterian  in 
stitution.  On  being  urged  to  do  so,  Mr.  Andersen  took  up  his  residence 
here  in   1848.     On  February   14th  of  thai   year,  he  organized   a  con- 


The  Story  of  The  Immanuel  Lutheran  Church 


THE  OLD   SCHOOLHOUSE 


I  ill    i  III  HCII  ON  SUPERIOR  STREET 


nil::  CHURCH  UN  SEDGWICK  AM)  HOBBIE  STREETS 
BEFORE  THE   FIRE 


The  Story  of  The  Immanuel  Lutheran  Church 


gregation.  The  same  year  he  was  ordained  by  the  Evangelical 
Lutheran  Frankean  Synod.  Before  long  the  congregation  purchased 
the  unfinished  structure  on  Superior  Street,  and  rebuilt  it  into  a  neat 
and  serviceable  1  i 1 1 1  c-  sanctuary. 

The  following  year  another  pastor  arrived  to  minister  among  the 
Scandinavians.  This  was  Rev.  Gustaf  Unonius,  ordained  in  the  Pro- 
testant Episcopal  Church  in  1846.  He  had  assisted  in  the  establish- 
ment of  a  Swedish  colony,  near  Pine  Lake,  Wisconsin,  as  early  as 
1841.  Shortly  after  his  arrival  in  Chicago  he  organized  the  St. 
Ansgarius  Episcopal  congregation.  The  date  of  organization  was 
March  5,  184!).  The  charter  members  were  thirty-four  in  number, 
about  half  Swedes  and  half  Norwegians. 

In  1850  Rev.  Unonius  took  a  trip  through  the  Eastern  states  and 
gathered  funds  for  a  building.  The  amount  thus  gathered,  together 
with  funds  collected  in  Chicago,  and  a  gift  of  $1,51111  from  the  cele- 
brated singer  Jenny  Lind,  was  sufficient  to  build  both  a  church  and 
a  parsonage.  These  were  located  on  Franklin  Street.  The  congrega- 
tion continued  to  grow  and  at  one  time  attained  considerable  nu- 
merical strength. 

It  can  not  be  denied  that  during  the  early  years,  many  joined 
this  congregation  under  the  misapprehension  that  they  were  joining 
a  "real"  Lutheran  Church.  Throughout  the  years  the  vicissitudes  of 
this  church  have  been  various.  The  corporation  is  still  continued  by 
the  little  St.  Ansgarius  Episcopal  Church  now  located  at  5(i48  Lincoln 
Avenue. 

Thus  by  1850  there  were  two  Scandinavian  churches  in  Chicago. 
As  a  rule,  however,  the  Swedes  joined  the  St.  Ansgarius  Church,  and 
the  Norwegians  the  Lutheran  Church. 

A  Good  and  Wise  Pastor 

In  1852  a  little  company  of  immigrants  came  to  Chicago  from 
Vastergotland,  Sweden.  They  continued  on  by  boat  to  Sheboygan, 
Wisconsin.  There  they  remained  for  two  days  on  the  docks,  men, 
women,  and  children,  with  their  baggage,  under  the  open  sky.  No 
one  understood  their  language  and  no  one  seemed  willing  to  lend 
them  any  assistance.  Their  unhappy  plighl  looked  SO  desperate  that 
when   the   hoat   made   its   return   trip,  they  went    hack   to  Chicago. 


Here  they  managed  to  find  quarters  with  some  Norwegian 
families,  members  of  the  Lutheran  Church.  Many  of  them  soon  fell 
ill  with  the  cholera,  and  one  expressing  an  eager  desire  to  see  a 
Lutheran  pastor.  Rev.  Paul  Andersen  was  sent  for.  Though  it  was 
late  in  the  night,  he  came  with  spiritual  comfort  for  the  sick  and  the 
dying.  As  time  went  on  he  continued  his  ministrations,  giving  them 
all  good  counsel  and  assistance,  in  both  spiritual  and  temporal  things. 
As  a  result,  the  members  of  the  little  band  became  much  attached  to 
him,  most  of  them  joining  his  church.  Some  among  them  were  ot 
deep  Christian  piety. 

About  this  time  the  Scandinavian  population  in  Chicago  was  in- 
creasing rapidly.  This  brought  new  problems.  Rev.  Andersen  was 
already  fully  occupied  in  meeting  the  spiritual  needs  of  the  Nor- 
wegians. Lie  felt  that  to  them  belonged  the  first  claim  on  his  time 
and  strength.  His  influence  on  the  Swedish  people  was,  naturally, 
rather  limited.  Yet,  he  was  concerned  about  them.  It  troubled  him 
to  see  many  of  them  drawn  into  non-Lutheran  circles,  some  by  sheer 
deception,  and  many  others  remain  spiritually  indifferent.  Hi'  came 
to  feel  that  the  best  way  out  would  be  to  organize  an  independent 
Swedish  Lutheran  Church.  His  own  Swedish  members,  so  he  hoped, 
were  to  become  the  nucleus  of  the  new  organization. 

An  opportunity  to  realize  his  plans  presented  itself  with  the  ar- 
rival of  Rev.  Tuve  N.  Hasselquist,  from  Sweden,  in  October,  LS52. 
Rev.  Hasselquist  stopped  in  Chicago  a  few  days,  and  was  a  guest  in 
his  home.  The  situation  was  gone  into  with  the  result  that  Rev.  Has- 
selquist promised  to  return,  at  his  earliest  convenience,  to  organize 
a  Swedish  congregation. 

Immanuel  Organized 

Dr.  Hasselquist  kept  his  promise.  After  attending  a  church  con- 
ference in  Moline  in  the  early  part  of  January,  1853,  he  set  out  by 
stage  coach  on  the  long,  costly,  and  wearisome  journey  to  Chicago. 

In  a  letter  to  Dr.  P.  Fjellstedt  in  Sweden,  under  the  date  of  Janu- 
ary 17,  1853,  he  wrote  concerning  his  visit  to  Chicago,  and  what  then 
took  place,  as  follows:  "After  attending  the  Mississippi  Conference 
convention  in  Moline  1  went  from  there  to  Chicago,  and,  since  a  week 
ago    hist   Thursday,    f    have    here   preached    five    times.      Yesterday    I 


10 


The  Story  of  The  Immanuel  Lutheran  Church 


preached  in  the  forenoon,  in  reality  to  the  Norwegian  congregation, 
unci  in  the  afternoon  to  the  Swedes.  At  the  hitter  occasion  I  preached 
on  'Christian  Caution  in  Regard  to  Strange  Religious  Communions,' 
;m<l  afterwards  spoke  ;i  few  words  on  Jeremiah  <>:  16,  whereupon 
pastor  Paul  Andersen  offered  a  fervent  prayer  with  respect  to  the 
weighty  matter  before  us,  which  brought  the  tears  to  most  eyes. 
Then  we  both  went  inside  the  altar  rail  and  proposed  to  the  Swedes 
three  resolutions,  in  regard  to  the  organization  of  a  congregation, 
the  basis  on  which  members  subsequently  are  to  be  received,  and 
the  congregation's  character  as  Lutheran.  Now  enrollment  of  mem- 
bers took  place,  and  a  decision  was  made  regarding  the  call  of  a 
pastor,  whereupon  all  was  concluded  with  prayer,  the  benediction, 
and  the  singing  of  psalm  number  412,  stanza  (i,  from  the  Swedish 
psalmbook." 

The  names  of  eighty  persons  were  placed  on  the  membership 
roll.  The  decision  regarding  the  call  of  a  pastor  was.  that  a  letter 
containing  a  call  should  he  sent  to  Dr.  1'.  Fjellstedt,  giving  him  the 
authority  to  select  the  proper  num.  In  due  time  Dr.  Fjellstedt 
exercised  the  authority  thus  given  him,  and  sent  the  call  to  Rev. 
Erland  Carlsson,  at  the  time  serving  in  the  Vexjo  diocese. 

A  Great    Leader  Comes 

Dr.  Fjellstedt  chose  more  wisely  than  he  perhaps  realized.  There 
can  hi'  no  doubt  that  he  was  divinely  led  in  making  the  selection. 
A  more  fitting  man  could  not  have  been  found. 

Rev.  Carlsson,  being  impressed  with  the  call,  laid  the  matter 
earnestly  in  prayer  before  the  Lord,  and  came  at  length  to  the  con- 
viction, that   (iod   had  chosen   him    for  this    work. 

After  receiving  the  requisite  permission  from  the  crown,  and 
having  made  other  necessary  preparations,  Rev.  Carlsson  set  sail  for 
America,  in  the  company  of  one  hundred  and  seventy-six  other  emi- 
grants, on  .lime  'A,  l<Sf>,'{.  New  York  was  not  reached  until  Saturday. 
August  13th.  On  Monday,  August  '22nd.  Rev.  Carlsson  arrived  in  Chi- 
cago, and  was  met  at  the  depot  and  warmly  welcomed,  by  members 
of  his  future  flock. 

From  the  time  of  organization  until  Rev.  Carlsson  arrived,  the 
congregation  held  its  services  in  the  Norwegian  Church,  each  Sunday 


m  \     P  \1  I.    ANDERSEN 


The  Story  of  The  Immanuel  Lutheran  Church 


1! 


afternoon.  There  was  no  preacher,  but  a  sermon  from  some  good 
postil  was  read  by  one  of  the  members.  Once  (luring  the  spring  Rev. 
L.  P.  Esbjorn,  then  stationed  at  Andover,  visited  the  congregation  and 
conducted  a  communion  service.  Rev.  Carlsson  preached  Ins  first 
sermon  on  August  2<Sth,  the  Fourteenth  Sunday  after  Trinity. 

Rev.  Carlsson's  Motto 

During  the  first  years  both  the  pastor  and  the  people  endured 
main  hardships.  It  is  only  to  be  expected  that  they  looked  upon 
themselves  as  strangers  in  a  strange  land.  This  sentiment  served  to 
draw  them  (loser  together,  and  where  there  was  also  spiritual  fellow- 
ship based  on  the  mutual  experience  of  grace,  the  attachment  became 
deep  and  tender.  As  Rev.  Carlsson  took  hold,  vigorously,  on  the 
multifarious  duties  crowding  upon  him,  he  was  confident  that  God 
would  supply  him  with  both  strength  and  wisdom  for  his  labors. 
On  the  first  page  of  the  church  records  he  has  written  these  words: 
"Relying  upon  divine  assistance  I  am  determined  to  declare  the  truth 
openly  and  faithfully,  whatever  difficulties  may  he  thrown  in  my 
way."  Is  (here,  perhaps,  an  element  of  prophesy  in  the  circumstance 
that  he  wrote  these  words  in  the  English  language? 

The  Charter  Members 

By  the  time  Rev.  Carlsson  took  charge,  the  majority  of  the  original 
eighty  communicant  members  had  drifted  away.  Some  had  left  the 
city  and  some  had  been  drawn  into  other  denominations.  Thirty-six, 
eight  married  couples,  and  twenty  single  persons,  were  all  thai  re- 
mained. 

All  of  them  were  in  straitened  financial  circumstances.  Thej 
lived  in  shanties,  or  other  crowded  and  inadequate  rented  quarters. 
As  they  could  not  house  tile  pastor,  he  secured  two  rooms  with  a 
Norwegian  family.  For  lodging,  hoard,  and  laundry  he  paid  ten 
dollars  a  month. 

In  1903,  when  the  congregation  celebrated  the  fiftieth  anniversary 
of  its  organization,  only  two  of  the  charter  members  were  still  alive. 
They  were  Eva  Charlotta  Anderson  ami  Gottfrid  Carlson.  Because  of 
the  merit  of  their  membership,  as  well  as  its  long  duration,  they  de- 
serve special  mention. 


IJH.  TUVE  N.   HASSELQUIST 


12 


The  Story  of  The  Immanuel  Lutheran  Church 


The  former  was  born  in  Timmelhed,  Vastergotland,  Sweden, 
March  11,  1829,  and  came  to  America  in  1851.  She  was  married  to 
Rev.  Carlsson  on  May  2.">,  IS."),"),  and  as  Ins  wife  gave  twenty  years  of 
most  valuable  service  in  the  upbuilding  of  the  congregation.  The 
following  children,  Annie,  Emmy,  Samuel,  and  Ebenezer  blessed  this 
union.  .Mrs.  Carlsson  was  endowed  with  much  native  ability  and  had 
a  pleasing  personality.  She  was  a  humble  Christian  whose  life  was 
filled  with  good  deeds.  She  nursed  the  sick,  cared  for  the  destitute, 
was  a  wise  and  tender  mother,  and  an  exemplary  pastor's  wife.  She 
left  Chicago  to  reside  with  her  husband  respectively  in  Andover,  Rock 
Island,  and  Lindsborg,  but  upon  bis  death  in  1893,  she  returned,  and 
made  her  home  during  her  declining  years,  with  her  daughter,  Mis. 
Emmy  Evald.  She  died  on  July  11,  1911,  eighty-two  years  and  four 
months  old. 

Gottfrid  Carlson,  best  known  as  Captain  Carlson,  because  of  his 
captaincy,  during  many  years,  in  the  Chicago  Fire  Department,  was 
born  in  Kylingareds  parish,  province  of  Alfsborg,  Sweden,  Novembei 
2!),  l<S.'if>.  lie  lived  a  beautifully  consistent  Christian  life.  Everyone 
coming  in  contact  with  him  felt  the  being  influence  of  his  spiritual- 
ity. He  served  for  a  long  period  as  a  deacon,  and  he  loved  lo  visit 
the  sick  and  aged.  He  was  seventeen  years  old  when  his  name  was 
placed  on  the  charter  roll,  and  his  membership  continued  unbroken 
until  his  death,  a  period  of  almost  seventy-one  years.  He  was  pos- 
sessed of  practically  undiminished  mental  and  physical  vigor  up  to 
the  very  end  of  life.  His  death  was  caused  by  an  automobile  accident 
on  December  11,  1923.  lie  was  then  eighty-eight  years  and  twelve 
days  old. 

The  First  Annual   Meeting 

The  first  annual  meeting  was  held  on  January  27,  1854.  Al  the 
meeting  of  organization  no  Board  of  Administration  had  been  elected, 
no  constitution  had  been  adopted,  anil  no  minutes  had  been  kept.  The 
only  document  from  that  meeting  was  the  membership  list.  It  was 
decided,  therefore,  that  a  brief  account  of  the  congregation's  origin 
was  to  be  written  and  spread  on  the  secretary's  book. 

The  pastor  bad  prepared  a  constitution,  which  was  adopted.  I  lie 
financial   report   lor  the  year  showed  receipts  to  the  amount   of  $21.90. 


DR.  I. AHS   I'.   ESBJoRN 

(the  sum  total  of  the  offerings  lilted  at  the  services)  and  disburse- 
ments to  the  amount  of  $11.93  (the  sum  paid  for  lighting  ami  heating 
the  church).  There  was  a  balance  in  the  treasurj  of  $9.97.  Up  I" 
January  1st.  the  pastor  had  received  no  pay  excepl  the  Christmas 
offering,  which  was  $18.75.  No  salary  was  decided  on  at  this  meeting. 
It  was  understood  thai  the  pastor's  support  should  consist  of  free- 
will contributions  and  personal  gifts.  The  necessarj  steps  to  secure 
Legal   incorporation   under  the   laws  of   Illinois,   were   taken. 


The  Story  of  The  Immanuel  Lutheran  Church 


13 


The  Constitution 

The  constitution  prepared  by  Rev.  Carlsson  is  a  noteworthy  docu- 
ment, because  it  lays  down  principles  which  later  were  adhered  to  by 
the  Augustana  Synod  in  prescribing  a  constitution  for  its  congrega- 
tions. 

There  were  three  paragraphs.  The  first  reads  as  follows:  "As 
a  Christian  Church  in  general,  and  as  an  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church 
in  particular,  this  congregation  acknowledges  the  Holy  Scriptures  as 
the  Word  of  Cod,  the  only  sufficient  and  infallible  norm  lor  man's 
faith  and  practice,  anil  accepts  not  only  the  three  oldest  symbols  (the 
Apostolical,  the  Nicene,  and  the  Athanasian ),  but  also  the  Augsburg 
Confession,  as  a  brief  but  true  summary  of  the  fundamental  doctrines 
of  the  Christian  religion."  The  second  paragraph  concerns  the  re- 
el ption  of  members,  and  the  third  church  discipline. 

This  constitution  was  not  in  force  more  than  lour  years.  In  1<S.">7 
the  Chicago  and  Mississippi  Conferences  held  a  joint  meeting  in 
Chicago,  March  IS — 23,  and  prepared  a  congregational  constitution. 
The  committee  which  presented  the  original  draft  consisted  of  the 
following  "fathers"  of  the  Augustana  Synod:  L.  P.  Esbjorn,  E.  Norc- 
lius,  Erl.  Carlsson,  ().  C.  T.  Andren.  Dr.  Norelius  was  not  at  the 
meeting,  but  he  submitted  a  document,  drawn  up  by  himself,  which 
was  used  as  the  basis  for  the  committee's  work.  The  convention  gave 
this  matter  close  attention  for  several  days.  A  number  of  changes  and 
revisions  were  made.  The  result  was  a  splendid  constitution,  which 
the  convention  urged  all  the  congregations  concerned  to  adopt.  This 
was  done  by  the  Immanuel  congregation  at  the  annual  meeting  on 
January  2!),  1858. 

No  changes  were  made  in  the  constitution  thus  adopted  until  it 
had  been  in  force  about  fourteen  years.  The  changes  then  made  were 
suggested  by  the  Augustana  Synod  at  its  convention  in  Amlover,  in 
1870.  The  revised  constitution  submitted  by  the  synod,  went  into 
effect  in  the  Immanuel  congregation  after  its  adoption  at  two  suc- 
cessive annual  meetings. 

Since  then  minor  changes,  recommended  by  the  synod,  have  been 
adopted  from  time  lo  time.  At  the  present  time  the  congregation  is 
governed  by  the  constitution  prescribed  by  the  synod  at  its  conven- 


CAPT.  .1.  GOTTFRID  CARLSON 


tion  in  New  Britain,  Connecticut,  in  1!>07  and  amended  in  1915.  The 
number  of  deacons  and  trustees  is  respectively  twelve,  as  fixed  at  the 
annual  meeting  in  1920. 

The  Name 

The  original  corporate  name  of  the  congregation  was  "Swedish 
Evangelical  Lutheran  Church  of  Chicago."  This  was  sufficient  as 
long  as  there  was  only  one  Swedish  Lutheran  congregation  in  the 
city.  But  when  the  Salem  congregation  was  organized  on  the  south 
side  in  1868  it  was  felt  that  a  more  distinctive  name  ought  to  be 
assumed.  Accordingly  at  the  annual  meeting  on  January  1,  1869,  tin 
congregation  chose  the  name:  "Swedish  Evangelical  Lutheran  Im- 
manuel Church  of  Chicago."    This  continued  to  lie  the  corporate  name 


14 


The  Story  of  The  Immanuel  Lutheran  Church 


for  fifty-one  years.  In  connection  with  its  adoption  the  following 
was  written  in  the  hook  of  minutes:  "May  this  name  now  and  in  the 
future  be  to  the  congregation  a  glorious  and  comforting  truth!  Yea. 
may  the  Lord  always  be  with  us  as  a  congregation.  Then  our  motto 
shall  be, 

'God   is  with  us,  with   Him  are   we; 

To  us   belongs  His   blessings.'  " 

As  a  result  of  the  merger  with  the  Bethel  church  the  name  was 
changed  again  at  the  annual  meeting  on  January  1.  1920.  This  time 
it  became  the  "Evangelical  Lutheran  Immanuel  Church  of  Chicago." 
By  this  last  change  the  congregation  has  put  itself  on  record  as  an 
American  church  which  speaks  the  language  of  the  land,  and  keeps  its 
doors  open  to  everyone  in  the  community,  irrespective  of  national 
antecedents. 

Relations  with  General   Bodies 

The  congregation's  first  connection  with  a  general  body  was 
made  the  very  year  of  its  organization.  The  third  convention  of  the 
Synod  of  .Northern  Illinois,  one  of  the  district  synods  of  the  national 
General  Synod,  was  held  that  year  in  Galesburg,  during  the  month  of 
October.  Since  Paul  Andersen,  I..  P.  Esbjorn,  and  T.  X.  Hasselquist, 
together  with  their  churches,  belonged,  the  congregation,  at  a  meeting 
held  on  Sunday,  October  9th,  decided  to  send  delegates.  The  pastor 
and  Mr.  C.  .1.  Anderson  Were  elected.  The  funds  for  their  journey 
were  raised  through  a  free-will  subscription.  As  a  gage  of  the 
liberality  shown  at  this  lime  by  the  almost  destitute  flock,  it  is 
recorded  that  most  of  those  present  gave  one  dollar,  and  the  rest 
gave  fifty  cents. 

One  of  the  constituent  bodies  in  the  Synod  of  .Northern  Illinois, 
was  the  Mississippi  Conference,  organized  in  Moline  by  four  Swedish 
pastors,  Esbjorn,  Hasselquist,  Valentine,  and  Hakanson,  on  January 
I),  1853.  On  joining  the  synod  at  Galesburg,  the  congregation  became  a 
member  of  this  conference.  Close  relations  were  also  maintained  to 
the  Chicago  Conference,  a  Norwegian  body.  We  have  seen  that  the 
constitution,  which  the  congregation  adopted  in  1858,  was  submitted 
by   a  joint  convention   of   the   Mississippi   and   Chicago   Conferences. 


The  Mississippi  Conference  is  continued  today  by  the  present  Illinois 
Conference  of   the   Augustana   Synod. 

The  Synod  of  Northern  Illinois  came  into  the  possession  in  1852. 
of  Hillsboro  College.  The  school  was  removed  to  Springfield  and 
given  the  ambitious  name  "Illinois  State  University."  It  was  a  college 
and  theological  seminary  combined. 

The  Norwegian  and  Swedish  congregations  soon  came  to  feel 
that  the  institution  could  not  supply  them  with  properly  trained 
pastors,  unless  special  provision  for  this  were  made.  Accordingly  a 
Scandinavian  professorship  was  established,  and  Rev.  I..  P.  Esbjorn 
was  elected  to  take  charge.  He  entered  upon  his  duties  in  the 
autumn  of  1858. 

The  plan,  however,  did  not  prove  satisfactory,  mainly  because  of 
a  heated  doctrinal  controversy  between  "Old"  and  "New"  Lutherans, 
The  Scandinavians  were  of  the  "Old"  school,  i.  e.  conservative 
Lutherans,  who  held  to  the  unaltered  Augsburg  Confession.  Matters 
were  brought  to  a  crisis  in  the  early  spring  of  1860.  Prof.  Esbjorn 
resigned  his  professorship  and  removed  to  Chicago,  followed  soon 
afterwards  by  all  but  two  of  the  Scandinavian   students. 

The  Scandinavian  Conferences,  i.  e.  the  Chicago,  Mississippi,  and 
Minnesota  Conferences,  held  a  joint  meeting  in  the  Immanuel  Churc  i 
on  Superior  Street,  April  23 — 27,  at  which  the  resignation  of  Prof. 
Esbjorn  was  approved,  and  a  committee  was  elected  to  draft  a  con- 
stitution for  an  independent  synod.  This  was  the  inception  of  Ih  • 
Augustana  Synod,  which  was  organized  at  Jefferson  Prairie,  near 
Clinton,  Wisconsin,  on  June  5th,  the  same  year.  A  school,  with  Prof. 
Esbjorn  in  charge,  was  opened  in  April,  and  was  conducted  in  the 
school  house  belonging  to  the  Immanuel  church.  This  was  the  lie- 
ginning  of  Augustana  College  and  Theological  Seminary,  now  located 
at   Bock   Island. 

The  Norwegian  and  Swedish  churches  were  one  in  the  faith  anil 
worked  together  in  amity.  However,  for  practical  reasons  the  Nor- 
wegians withdrew  in  1871)  and  organized  their  own  synod.  The 
separation  was  made  in  a  friendly  spirit. 

That  same  year  the  Augustana  Synod  joined  the  General  Council, 
a  body  of  conservative  synods,  organized  in  1867.  In  1917  the  General 
Council,   the   General    Synod,   and    the    United    Synod    of    the    South. 


The  Story  of  The  Immanuel  Lutheran  Church 


15 


joined  to  form  the  United  Lutheran  Church  of  America.  The  August- 
ana  Synod  at  its  convention  in  Minneapolis  in  1918,  withdrew  from 
the  merged  body. 

When  the  Bethel  and  the  Immanuel  churches  merged  in  1918,  the 
Immanuel  church,  automatically,  became  a  member  in  the  Association 
of  English  Churches,  an  advisory  body  within  the  Augustana  Synod. 


The  Cholera  Year. 

The  year  1<S.">4  lias  been  called  the  "terrible  cholera  year."  It  has 
been  estimated  that  about  two  thirds  of  the  immigrants  who  arrived 
that  year  perished  in  the  plague.  "Many  literally  walked  about  iwn\ 
died.  A  servant  girl  would  look  out  through  the  window  and  see  a 
hearse  driving  by,  not  knowing  that  the  coffin  contained  the  remains 
of  her  father  or  mother.  Members  of  families  were  buried  before  the 
husband  or  father  returned  from  work  in  the  evening.  The  sufferings 
of  those  who  remained  or  survived  can  only  be  imagined.  Innumer- 
able families  were  scattered.  Orphans  were  sometimes  sold  as 
chattels  and  brought  up  without  knowledge  of  their  origin." 

Immigrants  arriving  in  Chicago  were  urged  to  continue  on  to 
other  places,  where  the  epidemic  was  less  violent.  Many  lacked  the 
means  for  further  travel  and  had  to  remain,  most  of  them  only  to 
perish.  Great  numbers  contracted  the  sickness  enroute.  In  one  com- 
pany there  were  six  dead  on  arrival  at  the  Michigan  Central  Station. 
Seventeen  others  were  ill  and  were  immediately  taken  to  the  pest 
bouse,  where  about  half  the  number  died  before  the  next  morning. 

A  large  company  went  on  toward  Chisago  Lake,  Minnesota,  but 
the  majority  of  them  died  on  the  way,  and  were  buried  in  the  sands 
along  the  Mississippi  River.  Many  of  the  bodies  were  uncovered  and 
devoured  by  the  numerous  prairie  wolves. 

Another  company,  which  went  toward  Moline  and  Hock  Island, 
also  bad  a  most  disastrous  journey. 

Rev.  Carlsson  was  tireless  in  his  efforts  to  alleviate  the  misery 
both  within  and  without  the  membership  of  the  church.  He  allowed 
himself  scarcely  any  rest,  but  spent  the  time  from  early  morning  un- 
til   late   evening  among   the   sick   and   dying.     About   one   tenth    of   the 


communicant  members  of  the  Immanuel  Church  died.  The  mortality 
among  the  children  was  even  greater.  Immigration  at  this  time 
practically  ceased. 

Another  Hard  Year 

In  the  year  1857  a  financial  crisis  caused  the  collapse  of  nearly 
all  the  banks  and  threw  almost  all  hands  out  of  employment.  Main- 
left  town  and  wandered  out  into  the  country,  where  they  tried  to 
sustain  themselves  by  planting  potatoes  and  corn,  here  and  there, 
wherever  space  was  available.  Numerous  of  these  people  were  mem- 
bers of  the  Immanuel  Church.  Times  had  been  hard  enough  previous 
to  this.  For  instance,  upwards  to  the  year  1854  men  worked  for 
fifty  cents  a  day,  and  women  took  in  washing  for  ten  to  twenty-five 
cents  a  day,  while  flour  cost  seven  dollars  a  barrel  and  rent,  for  five 
or  six  poor  rooms,  was  twenty  dollars  a  month.  It  is  reported  that 
the  scarcity  of  money  in  the  year  of  the  crisis  was  so  great  that  in 
parts  of  Minnesota  muskrat  skins  were  used  as  currency.  Again 
immigration  was  greatly  affected,  scarcely  any  new-comers  arriving. 

The  number  of  the  congregation's  communicant  members  at  this 
time  was  204.  The  free-will  gifts  contributed  towards  the  pastor's 
support  amounted  in  1854  to  $116,  in  1855  to  $180,  and  in  1850  to  *240. 
At  the  annual  meeting  in  1857  the  congregation,  for  the  first  time, 
voted  the  pastor  a  fixed  salary.     The  amount  was  set   at  $350. 

The  First   Church 

We  have  noted  that  the  church  building  on  Superior  Street  was 
started  by  a  group  of  Scandinavians  which  soon  disbanded.  We  have 
noted,  also,  that  the  building  later  was  purchased  and  completed  by 
the  Norwegian  Lutheran  Congregation.  By  the  courtesy  of  the  Nor- 
wegians the  Immanuel  congregation  at  first  shared  in  the  use  of  this 
building,  paying  only  for  light  and  heat.  The  services  of  the  Im- 
manuel congregation  were  then  held  each  Sunday  afternoon  and  Fri- 
day evening.  Such  an  arrangement  could,  of  course,  be  only  tempo- 
rary. The  Norwegian  congregation  was  growing  and  desired  a  Larger 
church.     The  Immanuel  congregation   needed  a  sanctuary  of  its  own. 

At   a   meeting  held   on  October  24,   1854,  the   trustees   of  the    Im- 


16 


The  Story  of  The  Immanuel  Lutheran  Church 


raanuel  congregation  were  authorized  to  purchase  I  In-  Superior  Street 
property.  The  price  agreed  on  was  $1,500  for  the  lot  and  building  and 
$75  for  the  furnishings.  The  adjoining  lot  was  purchased  for  a  sum 
of  $900.  Some  repairs  were  necessary.  The  whole  transaction  cost 
s2.7H2.7r>. 

In  1859  the  building  was  lilted  ten  feet  and  a  basement  was  put 
under  it.  This  was  a  good  investment.  The  pastor  was  provided  with 
an  office,  three  rooms  were  rented  as  living  quarters,  and  two  rooms 
were  taken  possession  of  by  the  Swedish  Lutheran  Publication 
Society.  The  society  continued  to  occupy  these  rooms  no  iess  than 
ten  years.  Here  we  find  the  earliest  beginning  of  the  present  great 
publication  business  of  the  Augustana  Synod,  known  as  the  Augustana 
Hook  Concern,  now  located  at  Hock  Island.  It  is  also  the  earliest 
beginning  of  the  Swedish  press  in  America.  In  time,  the  rentals 
received  on  the  basement  netted  a  sum  considerably  larger  than  tiie 
cost  of  construction. 


Rapid  Growth 

In  1<S(i()  the  congregation  numbered  22(1  communicants.  By  1865 
the  number  of  communicants  reached  .")2.">.  During  the  fall  of  the 
latter  year,  no  less  than  seventy  communicants  joined  at  one  single 
reception. 

The  civil  war  had  broken  out  in  1861,  and  the  reaction  of  that 
terrible  conflict  in  the  Northern  States  was  increased  prices  on  com- 
modities, and  increased  wages  for  labor  of  all  kinds,  with  resulting 
general  prosperity.  The  good  times  attracted  multitudes  of  new 
citizens  to  our  shores.  It  might  he  added  that  the  members  of  the 
Immanuel  Chinch,  together  with  all  other  good  citizens  in  those  days. 
did  their  patriotic  duty.     Quite  a  number  of  the  men   served   under 

the  colors. 

The  church  building  now  became  loo  small  to  accommodate  the 
worshippers.  In  1865  twenty  feet  were  added  to  its  length.  At  the 
completion  of  this  enlargement  the  congregation  had  a  debt  of 
$2,398.54.  The  building  could  he  enlarged  no  further  but  it  was  still 
loo  small.    Other  measures  must  be  taken. 


The  Salem  Church  Organized 

Quite  a  numebr  of  the  Swedish  immigrants  made  their  homes  on 
the  South  Side.  To  relieve  the  growing  congestion  at  the  church  it 
was  decided  to  conduct  services  at  some  point  in  that  section  of  the 
city.  This  was  in  February,  1866.  Mr.  P.  Erikson,  a  theologii  a] 
student,  was  called  to  assist  the  pastor.  From  then  on.  services  were 
held  simultaneously  in  the  church  and  on  the  South  Side.  This  was 
the  origin  of  the  Salem  congregation,  which  organized  as  an  inde- 
pendent church  in  1868.  The  Immanuel  church  purchased  three  lots 
on  the  South  Side,  at  a  cost  to  itself  of  $1,000,  and  made  them  an  out- 
right parting  gift  to  the  Salem  church. 

The  number  of  communicants  that  withdrew,  to  become  members 
of  the  Salem  Church,  was  quite  large.  None-the-less,  when  their 
names  had  been  substracted.  the  Immanuel  Church  could  still  claim 
1,020  communicants. 

One  of  the  members,  who  left  to  become  a  charter  member  of  the 
Salem  Church,  Mr.  Martin  A.  Lindberg,  rejoined  the  Emmanuel  Church, 
December  12,  1920.  He  served  the  Salem  Church  well  for  fifty-two 
years,  most  of  the  time  as  a  trustee,  and  for  main  years  as  the  church 
treasurer.  He  was  horn  in  Sweden,  November  17.  1  s:i.S.  Though 
somewhat  enfeebled  by  age.  he  still  takes  a  keen  interest  in  all  thai 
transpires  in  the  church. 

New    Lots   Purchased 

At  the  annual  meeting  on  Jan.  27.  LSli.S.  the  Hoard  of  Administra- 
tion submitted  a  report  stating  that  the  church  building  was  large 
enough  for  only  one  half  of  the  membership,  and  in  consequence  there 
was  such  crowding  that  it  was  not  only  difficult  to  conduct  the  si  rvi- 
ces,  with  decorum,  hut  it  was  even  injurious  to  the  health  of  the 
worshippers. 

A  committee  was  elected  to  find  a  suitable  location  for  a  new 
church.  The  committee  was  ready  to  report  on  February  24th.  Three 
sites  were  available.  After  a  lengthy  discussion  the  southwest 
corner  of  Sedgwick  and  Ilobbie  Streets  was  chosen.  Some  thought 
the  location  was  too  far  north,  but  they  were  won  over  h\  the  argu- 
ment that  a  congregation  would  eventually   be  organized  on  the  West 


The  Story  of  The  Immanuel  Lutheran  Church 


17 


THE  C.HLIU'.II   IN   RUINS 


side,  and  the  [mnianuel  Church  in  locating  on  the  north,  would  avoid 
future  friction.  The  vote  was  unanimous.  The  ground  purchased 
was  75x130  feet.     The  price  of  purchase  was  $7,000. 

The  Gethsemane  Church 

About  two  years  later,  or  on  May  15,  187(1,  a  new  congregation  was 
organized.  The  name  Gethsemane  was  chosen.  Those  who  con- 
templated the  organization  petitioned  the  Immanuel  Church  for  the 
use  of  the  old  building  on  Superior  Street.  The  petition  was  kindly 
received,  and  the  request  granted.  After  the  Chicago  fire  the  Gethse- 
mane Congregation  located  at  the  corner  of  May  and  Huron  Streets, 
becoming  the  first  West  Side  church  of  the  Augustana  Synod.  Rev. 
Peter  Erickson  was  the  first  pastor. 


A  New  Sanctuary 

One  year  following  the  purchase  of  the  new  lots,  the  [mnianuel 
Congregation  was  ready  to  proceed  with  the  construction  of  a  larger 
sanctuary.  A  building  committee,  consisting  of  the  Board  of  Admini- 
stration (ten  deacons  and  six  trustees)  together  with  twelve  others, 
was  elected  at  the  annual  meeting  on  January  1,  1869.  The  meeting 
stipulated  that  the  church  must  have  a  basement  and  be  a  brick 
structure.  The  committee  was  requested  to  have  general  plans  ready 
by  February  4th. 

At  the  February  meeting  the  plans  submitted  provided  that  the 
building  was  to  be  08  by  118  feet,  and  have  a  steeple  1T>4  feet  high. 
The  committee  was  ordered  to  proceed  with  the  construction,  and  all 
the  details  were  left  to  its  discretion.  Consul  P.  L.  Hawkinson  was 
made  the  treasurer  of  the  building  fund. 

Building  was  started  on  April  14th,  the  corner  stone  was  laid  on 
May  23rd,  the  first  service  in  the  building  was  held  on  October  31st, 
and  dedication  took  place  on  November  7th.  The  cost  of  the  building 
exceeded  somewhat  the  sum  of  $34,000. 

On  November  7th  the  congregation  gathered  in  the  old  church  on 
Superior  Street  at  8:30  A.M.  An  impressive  farewell  service  was  held. 
Then  a  procession  was  formed,  led  by  the  pastor  and  the  deacons 
bearing  the  communion  service  and  the  church  Bible.  The  new 
church  was  entered  and  a  stately  service  of  dedication  took  place. 
The  following  widely  known  names  appear  on  the  program:  Prof.  T. 
N.  Hasselquist,  Dr.  C.  P.  Krauth,  Prof.  II.  W.  Both,  and  Dr.  J.  A.  Seiss. 
Dr.  Hasselquist  was  also  present  at  the  corner-stone  laying.  On  the 
program  with  him  at  that  time  were  Dr.  G.  Peters  "the  apostle  of 
Bockford,"  and  Dr.  S.  L.  Harkey. 

The  new  sanctuary  was  the  largest  and  most  imposing  owned,  at 
that  time,  by  any  Augustana  Synod  congregation.  It  excited  the 
enthusiastic  admiration  of  the  delegates  to  the  General  Council,  which 
held  a  convention  there  a  few  days  before  the  service  of  dedication. 
But  it  was  none  too  spacious  for  the  throng  of  worshippers.  The 
Lord  blessed  the  preaching  of  the  Gospel  in  a  singular  manner,  and 
a  great  spiritual  revival  resulted.  Large  numbers  were  brought  to 
the  feet  of  Christ  in  penitence  and  faith. 


18 


The  Story  of  The  Immanuel  Lutheran  Church 


Everything  now  looked  promising.  The  pastor  and  the  congrega- 
tion anticipated  the  future  with  joy.  Only  our  thing  caused  concern. 
A  debl  of  $22,600  rested  on  the  property.  At  the  annual  meeting,  on 
January  1,  1871,  it  was  decided  to  take  steps  to  reduce  the  debt 
during  the  coining  fall.  To  make  plans  for  tins  the  Board  of  Admini- 
Station  was  called  to  a  special  meeting  to  be  held  on  Monday  evening, 
October  Dili.  That  meeting  was  never  held.  Times  of  severest  trial 
were  to  descend  on  the  Immanuel  Congregation  and  the  city  of 
Chicago. 

The  Chicago  Fire 

Sunday  evening,  October  8th,  the  pastor  preached  to  a  full  house. 
On  the  way  home  from  chinch  a  ruddy  color  in  the  sky  to  the  south 
was  noticed.  There  was  also  a  persistent  clamor  of  fire  alarms.  But 
no  one  was  worried.  However,  before  the  dawn  of  the  next  morning 
thi'  larger  part  of  Chicago  was  in  ashes,  and  the  lire  was  sweeping 
northward  with  terrific  fury.  The  pastor  and  Mrs.  Carlsson,  with 
a  few  of  the  members,  were  at  the  church  when  it  caught  on  fire,  but 
so  quickly  did  the  flames  do  their  work,  that  nothing  of  value,  except 
the  church  records,  could  be  saved.  It  is  reported  that  the  parochial 
school  teacher,  now  the  aged  Dr.  A.  1'.  Monten,  loaded  the  church 
records  on  a  push-carl  and  conveyed  them  to  the  West  Side,  beyond 
the  reach  of  the  flames.  The  buildings  on  Superior  Street  were  also 
completely  destroyed. 

Nine  tenths  of  the  congregation's  members  were  burned  out.  To 
be  sure  most  of  them  were  renters,  but  the  general  effects  of  the 
catastrophe  were  such,  thai  greal  numbers  were  reduced  to  poverty. 
The  condition  of  some  became  pitiable.  Many  left  the  city  to  begin 
life  anew  in  other  parts. 

A  Crisis 

In  the  midsl  of  all  the  confusion  Rev.  Carlsson  managed,  somehow, 
lo  gather  his  people  for  a  service  in  the  Norwegian  Trinity  Church, 
on  the  afternoon  of  the  next  Sunday,  October  15th.  At  this  time  it 
was  announced  thai  the  following  Sunday  afternoon  a  business  meet- 
ing of  the  congregation  would  be  held. 

The  Board  of  Administration  met  the  next  day,  October  Kith.    The 


situation  was  carefully  surveyed.  The  company  in  which  the  old 
church  was  insured  had  gone  bankrupt.  The  prospect  of  collecting 
anything  on  the  $10,000  policy  held  on  that  property  was  very  slender. 
(Eventually  $428  were  realized).  There  was  in  reality  no  insurance 
on  the  new  church,  because  the  provision  made  for  this  would,  under 
the  circumstances,  not  be  recognized.  The  members  could  only  with 
difficulty  procure  needed  food  and  shelter.  No  wonder  the  situation 
to  some  seemed  utterly  hopeless. 

A  motion  was  made  that  the  congregation  declare  itself  bankrupt, 
let  the  creditors  take  what  they  could,  and  then  reorganize.  Against 
this  the  pastor  took  a  firm  stand.  "If  you  intend  to  go  into  bank- 
ruptcy," he  declared,  "I  will  no  longer  be  your  pastor.  But  if  you 
will  he  honest  and  put  your  trust  in  the  Lord,  I  will  do  ni\  utmost 
that  we  may  both  get  a  new  church,  and  pay  our  debt." 

The  pastor's  attitude  met  with  favor,  and  after  further  discussion 
and  prayer  the  following  resolution  was  adopted:  "'the  Immanuel  con- 
gregation will,  in  the  Name  of  .lesus,  continue  its  existence  and  work 
under  its  legal  name,  constitution  and  incorporation,  and  with  the 
help  of  God,  pay  its  debt  honestly  to  the  last  cent." 

At  the  meeting  of  the  congregation  on  Sundaj  afternoon,  October 
22nd,  it  became  evident  that  the  resolution  passed  by  the  Board  voiced 
the  general  opinion  of  the  church  members.  When  the  resolution  had 
been  duly  presented  all  present,  men,  women,  and  children,  rose  to 
their  feet  with  one  impulse  to  vote  approval.  It  has  been  said,  truly. 
that  this  was  the  most  exalted  moment  in  the  history  of  the  Inunanucl 
Church. 

Clearing  Away  the   Debris 

The  next  morning.  Monday,  October  2!5rd.  the  congregation  proved 
its  sincerity.  By  nine  o'clock  a  large  crowd  was  assembled  at  the 
ruins  of  the  church.  With  Rev.  Carlsson's  wagon  taking  the  place  of 
a  pulpit,  a  brief  service  was  held.  The  speakers  were:  Rev.  .1.  1'.  Ny- 
quist,  pastor  of  the  Salem  Church,  Dr.  W.  A.  Passavant,  and  Rev. 
Carlsson.  Dr.  Passavant  had  also  spoken  the  previous  afternoon. 
The  service  closed  with  the  hearty  singing  of  the  last  verse  of  Luther's 
hymn,  "A  Mighty  Fortress  is  Our  God." 


The  Story  of  The  Immanuel  Lutheran  Church 


19 


THE  PRESENT  CHURCH 
AT  SEDGWICK  AND  HOBBIE  STREETS 


INTERIOR   01-    llll.   PRESENT  CHURCH 
AT  SEDGWICK   AM)  HOBBIE  STRE1   is 


20 


The  Story  of  The  Immanuel  Lutheran  Church 


Then  all  went  to  work,  lustily,  to  clear  away  the  debris.  Once 
more  men,  women,  and  children  took  part.  The  bricks  that  could  be 
used  again  were  cleaned  and  stacked  in  piles.  All  useable  iron  ma- 
terial was  also  laid  by.  There  are  a  number  of  members  still  active 
iu  the  church,  who  shared  in  those  labors. 

Building  on  the  Ruins 

A  great  task  now  confronted  the  congregation.  It  was  courage- 
ously taken  in  hand  at  the  next  annual  meeting,  January  1,  1872.  Rev. 
S.  P.  A.  Lindahl  was  engaged  to  assist  in  the  pulpit  and  pastoral  work, 
so  that  Rev.  Carlsson  might  give  his  time  to  the  ingathering  of  funds. 
It  was  decided  to  begin  building  as  soon  as  $10,000  had  been  collected. 
A  building  committee  was  elected,  again  consisting  of  the  Board  of 
Administration  with  twelve  Others.  Again  the  committee  was  given 
practically  unlimited  powers.  Except  for  a  detail  here  and  tnere, 
the  plans  and  specifications  were  a  duplication  of  the  previous 
building. 

Building  began  on  .Inly  5th,  Hie  corner  stone  was  laid  on  August 
4th,  and  the  first  service  was  held  early  on  Christmas  morning.  The 
church  was  not  furnished  when  this  service  was  held,  planks  were 
used  instead  of  pews,  and  there  was  no  organ.  The  singing  was  led 
by  a  cornet  band  under  the  direction  of  Mr.  L.  E.  Lindberg. 

In  the  meantime  Rev.  Carlsson  had  visited  a  number  of  Augast- 
ana  Synod  Churches  and  several  English  and  German  speaking 
churches  in  Pittsburg,  Philadelphia,  and  New  York.  He  also  wont 
across  the  waters  to  Sweden  in  187.'*,  and  by  the  king's  direction  re- 
ceived offerings  in  the  churches  of  that  country.  Within  the  Im- 
manuel Church  itself  an  almost  unbelievcably  Large  sum  had  been 
contributed. 

The  building  treasurer's  book  shows  the  following  figures: 

Within    the   congregation    $17,633.05 

From  other  Augustana  Churches  4,177.64 

From   English  and  German   Luth.  Churches     9,429.61 

From    Sweden    2,!)54.4f) 

Special  gifts  and  offerings  3, 34'.). (ill 


The  church  completed  for  dedication  cost  $31,845.68.  It  had  then 
neither  steeple,  organ,  nor  bells.  As  the  funds  gathered  exceeded  the 
cost  by  $5,698.73,  this  amount  was  applied  on  the  debt. 

The  service  of  dedication  was  held  on  April  4,  187.").  At  that 
service  a  new  pastor,  Rev.  C.  A.  Evald,  was  installed. 

The  congregation,  that  year,  reported  a  total  communicant  mem- 
bership of  1,446.  It  was,  at  the  time,  the  largest  and  most  active 
church   in  the  Augustana  Synod. 


Total  *:<7,a44.41 


SAMl   I.I      WM.ItSON 


The  Story  of  The  Immanuel  Lutheran  Church 


21 


A  Remarkable  Lay  Leader 

One  of  the  members  on  the  building  committee  was  a  remarkable 
man  who  for  many  subsequent  years  played  an  important  part  in  the 
Immanuel  church,  and  in  time  became  widely  known  throughout  the 
synod.  This  man  was  Mr.  Samuel  Anderson.  He  was  born  in  Landa 
parish,  Halland,  Sweden,  August  14,  1840,  and  came  to  Chicago  in  1870. 
He  was  at  first  employed  as  a  carpenter,  but  later  he  invented  a 
process  for  the  manufacture  of  margarine,  which  in  time  brought  him 
financial  independence.  He  consecrated  his  money  to  the  Lord, 
giving  liberally  to  the  support  of  the  church  and  other  benevolent 
purposes. 

He  served  as  a  deacon  for  thirty-two  consecutive  years.  He  was 
a  leading  member  in  the  Tract  Society,  and  in  connection  with  the 
work  of  that  organization,  was  instrumental  in  founding  Sunday 
Schools  in  Lake  View,  Humboldt  Park,  and  in  the  southwest.  These 
schools  eventually  developed  into  the  Trinity,  Saron,  and  Zion  con- 
gregations. Many  have  followed  his  example  in  similar  home  mission 
endeavors,  with  blessed  results  for  many  other  communities  in  our 
city. 

From  188(i  until  his  death  Mr.  Anderson  was  a  member  of  the 
Augustana  Hospital  board.  He  served  many  years  on  the  board  of 
Augustana  College.  He  was  also  for  a  long  time  a  member  of  the 
Executive  Committee  of  the  Illinois  Conference. 

By  nature  Mr.  Anderson  was  impulsive  and  big-hearted.  By  grace 
he  became  devout  ami  consecrated.  Although  in  his  business  an  exe- 
cutive with  many  men  under  his  direction,  and  a  leader  of  prominence 
in  the  church,  he  was  always  a  man  of  marked  humility.  He  made 
many  trips  to  the  county  institutions  of  charity,  and  visited  the  sick 
and  unfortunate  in  person,  that  he  might  speak  to  them  of  things 
spiritual,  and  distribute  temporal  cheer  with  a  lavish  hand.  He  be- 
friended many  an  immigrant  on  his  arrival,  and  helped  him  on  to 
economic  success. 

He  was  deeply  devoted  to  his  pastor.  Dr.  Evald,  on  his  part, 
often  spoke  of  Mr.  Anderson  as  bis  "Jonathan." 

Mr.  Anderson  departed  this  life  in  lilll  at  an  age  of  seventy- 
one  years. 


Dr.  Erland  Carlsson 

We  have  noted  that  the  years  during  which  Dr.  Erland  Carlsson 
was  the  pastor,  were  years  of  unprecedented  growth  and  develop- 
ment. We  quote  the  following  from  the  pen  of  Dr.  W.  A.  Passavant, 
written  in  18(54:  "The  amount  of  good  which  has  been  accomplished 
through  the  establishment  of  this  church  cannot  be  estimated. 
Thousands  upon  thousands  of  Swedish  immigrants  have  passed 
through  Chicago  and  have  received  counsel,  assistance,  and  spiritual 
direction  for  their  new  and  untried  American  life.  -  -  Discarding 
all  modern  methods  of  getting  up  excitements  or  helping  on  the  work 
of  the  Holy  Spirit  by  human  means  and  expedients,  apart  from  the 
means  of  grace  revealed  in  the  Word,  this  church  has  enjoyed  a  con- 
tinued awakening  or  revival  from  its  commencement,  and  great  has 
been  the  ingathering  of  souls.  It  may  almost  be  said  of  it,  as  of  the 
one  in  Jerusalem,  'The  Lord  added  to  the  church  daily  those  that 
were  saved.'  " 

In  addition  to  the  great  work  on  the  local  field,  Dr.  Carlsson  found 
it  possible  to  engage  in  a  vast  home  mission  program.  We  quote  the 
following  from  an  address  by  Rev.  E.  K.  Jonson,  delivered  at  the 
congregation's  sixtieth  anniversary  celebration:  "From  this  congrega- 
tion came  the  three  churches  of  the  city,  which  later  branched  out 
into  the  three  Chicago  districts,  with  their  forty-four  congregations. 
While  serving  here  Rev.  Carlsson  organized  the  congregations  which 
became  the  start  of  the  large  Minnesota  Conference,  namely,  the  con- 
gregations in  St.  Paul,  Chisago  Lake,  Marine  Mills,  etc.  To  the  west 
he  served  the  congregations  in  Pecatonica,  Rockford,  Elgin,  St. 
Charles,  and  Geneva.  To  the  east  be  visited  and  organized  congrega- 
tions in  Indiana,  going  even  as  far  as  New  York  City,  where  he  or- 
ganized the  Gustaf  Adolf's  Church.  —  He  also  preached  in  several 
places  in  Wisconsin  and  Michigan." 

Dr.  Erland  Carlsson  was  born  in  the  village  of  Sullertorp,  the 
Alghult  parish,  Smaland,  Sweden,  August  24,  1822.  His  parents  were 
of  the  peasantry.  They  were  poor  but  pious  folk,  who  reared 
their  son  in  the  fear  and  admonition  of  the  Lord.  The  father  died 
when  the  son  was  but  ten  years  of  age.  The  spiritual  experience 
made  at  the  time  of  his  confirmation  quickened  in  Dr.  Carlsson  the 
desire  to  become  a  pastor.     He  completed  his  college  course  in   1844, 


\l  (.1  STANA   COLLEGE  AND  THEOLOGICAL  SEMINARY 


The  Story  of  The  Immanuel  Lutheran  Church 


23 


and  his  theological  course  in   1848.     He  was   ordained  in   the   Vaxjo 
Cathedral  June  10,  184!). 

Because  of  his  consecration,  and  the  power  of  his  message,  he 
soon  made  himself  felt.  This  was  a  time  of  spiritual  refreshing  in 
all  parts  of  Sweden.  Some  of  the  leaders  in  the  church  were  not 
friendly  to  this  manifestation.  They  called  it  "pietism"  and  "fanati- 
cism." They  were  afraid  the  common  people  would  become  "too 
religious."  Dr.  Carlsson  before  long  drew  their  attention.  They  took 
petty  measures  against  him,  but  the  people  held  him  in  even  greater 
esteem,  and  gave  him  a  still  more  responsive  hearing. 

The  attitude  of  the  church  leaders  no  doubt  in  a  measure  was  the 
cause  of  his  accepting  the  call  from  Chicago.  But  only  in  a  measure, 
for  the  real  cause  lay  deeper.  As  we  have  seen  he  was  filled  with  in- 
tense missionary  zeal. 

After  twenty-two  years  of  service  Dr.  Carlsson  did  not  leave  the 
Immanuel  Church  because  he  wished  to,  nor  because  of  any  desire 
in  that  direction  on  the  congregation's  part.  He  was  in  need  of  a 
change  on  account  of  his  health.  He  moved  to  Andover,  and  served 
the  church  there  from  187.")  to  1887.  He  then  moved  to  Hock  Island 
to  become  the  manager  of  Augustana  College  and  Theological  Semi- 
nary. Here  he  continued  until  188!)  when  he  retired,  making  his 
home  on  an  estate  near  Lindsborg,  Kansas. 

In  the  church  at  large,  Dr.  Carlsson  occupied  a  prominent  place. 
He  was  president  of  the  Illinois  Conference  for  many  years,  and  pre- 
sident of  the  Augustana  Synod  1881 — 1887.  He  held  many  other  im- 
portant positions  of  trust,  but  his  greatest  efforts  were  perhaps  given 
to  the  upbuilding  of  the  orphan  home  in  Andover,  and  Augustana 
Hospital  in  Chicago. 

He  died  on  October  1!).  1893,  in  the  home  of  his  son-in-law  and 
daughter,  Dr.  and  Mrs.  C.  A.  Evald.  His  grave  in  the  Graceland  Ceme- 
tery is  marked  by  a  stone  erected  by  the  Immanuel  Congregation 
in  18!)7. 

Church    Decorum 

Some  of  the  founders  of  the  Augustana  Synod  were  at  first  rather 
loose  in  regard  to  church  order.  They  put  aside  the  clerical  garb  and 
the  church  book,  and  in  a  few  instances,  even  kept  no  church  register. 
This  attitude  was  assumed  as  the  part  of  good  policy  in  deference  to 


DR.  GUSTAV  A.  ANDREEN 
President  of  Augustana  College 


24 


The  Story  of  The  Immanuel  Lutheran  Church 


-Ton ■inn  ji 


n^nn  n  W 


AUGUSTANA   HOSPITAL 


the  scruples  of  some  honest,  but  legalistic,  folks,  who  disliked  the 
regulations  and  practices  of  the  State  Church  of  Sweden,  and  re- 
belled against  the  introduction  of  anything  similar  into  the  churches 
of  this  country.  Dr.  Carlsson  took  a  different  stand.  He  believed  that 
a  church  service  should  be  conducted  with  order  and  dignity.  He  did 
yield  on  some  minor  points,  but  he  wore  the  customary  clerical  coat 
and  bands,  and  used  the  church  book,  both  for  pastoral  acts,  and  in 
the  main,  at  public  worship.  He  also  insisted  on  a  well  kept  register 
of  members.  Gradually  others  began  to  follow  the  same  policy.  In 
the  Immanuel  Church  the  good  order  thus  introduced  has  continued, 
and  the  resulting  dignity  and  stability  has  not  been  without  its  good 
fruits. 


Church  Music  and  the  Choir 

The  first  director  of  music  was  Mr.  C.  J.  Anderson,  the  man  who. 
together  with  Dr.  Carlsson,  represented  the  congregation  at  the  con- 
vention of  the  Synod  of  Northern  Illinois  in  1853.  The  church  had 
no  organ,  and  Mr.  Anderson's  duty  consisted  in  leading  the  congrega- 
tion, as  best  he  could,  in  the  singing.  Among  the  many  who  have 
since  directed  the  musical  part  of  the  services  may  be  mentioned 
Oliver  Larson,  Jonas  Engberg,  L.  E.  Lindberg,  Jos.  E.  Osborn,  K. 
Sandquist,  A.  B.  Olson,  .1.  F.  Ring. 

Mr.  Emil  Larson  was  elected  in  1N<S5  and  served  to  LSilT.  a  period  of 
twelve  years.  He  was  succeeded  by  Mr.  R.  Olson,  who  in  turn  was 
succeeded  by  Mr.  A.  0.  T.  Astenius.  In  1901  a  special  committee,  to 
have  charge  of  all  matters  pertaining  to  the  music  of  the  church,  was 
appointed  by  the  Board  of  Administration.  The  action  of  the  Hoard 
was  sanctioned  by  the  annual  meeting  of  the  church.  The  committee 
secured  the  services  again  of  Mr.  Emil  Larson.  Mr.  Larson  continued 
through  the  jubilee  year  1903,  later  going  to  Rock  Island  as  head  of 
the  conservatory  of  music  at  Augustana  College.  He  was  followed, 
in  the  Immanuel  Church,  by  Mr.  A.  Alfred  Holmes,  who  staved  as 
organist  and  choir  director  for  about  twenty-one  years,  or  until 
November  1,  1025.  The  present  organist  and  choir  director,  Mr.  Car! 
W.  Broman,  took  charge  in  February,  1!)2(>. 

The  church  choir  in  its  present  organization  has  a  history  of 
about  forty-four  years.  Previous  to  the  time  of  its  organization  there 
had  been  choir  singing  at  the  services,  but  with  considerable  irregu- 
larity. The  present  choir  was  organized  January  2,  LSS4.  with  a  mem- 
bership of  forty-one.  Mrs.  Emmy  Eva  Id  was  the  first  leader.  Among 
the  others  who  have  directed  the  choir  are:  Lilljeblad,  V.  J.  Tengwald. 
J.  L.  Swenson,  Sam.  E.  Carlson,  Chas.,Dahlen. 

The  choir  has  at  the  present  time  a  membership  of  fifty-seven. 
Thi'  president  is  Mr.  Oscar  F.  Johnson.  Under  Mr.  Broman's  able 
leadership  the  choir  does  very  effective  work  at  the  Sunday  morning 
worship  by  the  rendition  of  special  numbers,  and  in  the  leading  of 
the  congregation's  singing  of  hymns  and  the  liturgical  parts  of  the 
service.  There  is  at  present  also  the  Girl's  Junior  Choir,  which  sim;s 
occasionally  at  the  evening  services. 


n>  a  • 


or*.   ~> 


r 


THE  CHURCH  CHOIR 


26 


The  Story  of  The  Immanuel  Lutheran  Church 


Two  organizations  sonic  years  back  attained  ;i  wide-spread  re- 
putation. They  were  the  orchestra  under  Mr.  L.  E.  Lindberg's  direc- 
tion, and  the  male  chorus  Lyran.  The  latter  for  a  period  sang,  regular- 
ly, at  the  morning  services,  the  fourth  Sunday  of  each  month. 

In  1900  a  vesper  choir  was  organized  by  Mrs.  Evald.  It  was  under 
the  leadership  of  such  men  as  Carl  Engstrom,  Emil  Lundgren,  Skold 
Liljenstolpe.  In  1917  Mr.  Sam.  L.  Anderson  became  the  leader.  He 
was  followed  by  Mr.  George  II.  Nelson.    The  choir  disbanded  in  1920. 

The    Influence    of    Prayer    Meetings 

Prayer  meetings  have  throughout  the  years  been  given  an  im- 
portant place  on  the  Immanuel  program,  and  at  times  their  influence 
has  been  very  marked.  The  great  spiritual  outpourings  of  Dr.  Carls- 
son's  pastorate,  of  which  there  were  special  manifestations  in  the 
years  1  <S.">7,  1858,  and  1 870  stood  in  direct  relation  to  these  gatherings. 
It  is  significant,  too,  that  in  times  of  greatest  refreshing  the  prayer 
meetings  were  crowded  with  young  people.  The  same  was  the  case 
while  Dr.  Evald  was  the  pastor.  The  prayer-week  observed  at  the 
beginning  of  the  year  sometimes  developed  into  a  season  of  prayer 
services  with  meetings  every  evening  and  lasting  for  many  weeks. 

Dr.  Evald  writes  in  "Minnes-Skrift"  about  as  follows:  "At  these 
services  no  artifical  means  what-so-ever  arc  used,  but  each  evening 
a  sermon  is  firs!  preached  in  the  church  auditorium  by  the  pastor  or 
his  assistant,  after  which  several  hundred  assemble  in  the  basement 
chapel,  where  a  brief  meditation  is  conducted  by  the  preacher  who 
has  not  yet  spoken.  Thereupon  the  deacons  and  other  spiritual  men 
give  brief  exhortations,  interspersed  with  singing  and  prayer,  basing 
their  remarks  on  some  passage  of  Scripture.  When  this  second  serv- 
ice is  ended  it  often  happens  that  a  third  and  even  a  fourth  will  fol- 
low. These  latter  services  arc  of  a  more  private  nature,  a  smaller  or 
larger  number  voluntarily  remaining  for  consultation  and  prayer 
with  the  pastor  or  other  Christians.  From  these  moments  many  a 
one  counts  the  beginning  of  a  life  of  faith  in  Jesus  Christ  the  Son  of 
God."  He  adds  that  the  constant  communion  with  God,  in  a  right  use 
of  the  Means  of  Grace  the  year  around,  is  the  soil  from  which  such 
special  services  with  their  blessed  experiences,  spring   forth. 


There  is  still  in  the  Immanuel  Church  the  faithful  prayer-meet- 
ing group,  but  it  has  become  quite  small.  Would  that  God  might  lead 
us  back  to  the  faith  and  consecration  of  former  years! 

The   Week   Day    Parish   School 

The  Lutheran  Church  is  a  teaching  church,  and  one  of  her  main 
sources  of  strength  is  the  thorough  indoctrination  of  the  young.  This 
was  realized,  in  the  Immanuel  congregation  from  the  beginning.  Only 
six  weeks  after  Dr.  Carlsson's  arrival  a  parish  week  day  school  was 
started.  The  first  teacher  was  Erik  Norelius,  later  for  main  years 
the  president  of  the  Augustana  Synod.  He  was  followed  by  A.  An- 
dreen,  the  father  of  Dr.  Gustav  Andreen,  president  of  Augustana  Col- 
lege and  Theological  Seminary. 

The  first  school  house  was  built,  at  the  rear  of  the  church,  in 
1850.  It  was  a  two-story  building,  the  ground  dimensions  being 
24x32  feet.  The  upper  story  was  rented  for  residence  purposes,  only 
the  first  being  used  by  the  school.  In  this  building  the  Augustana 
Seminary  was  housed  the  first  three  years  of  its  existence. 

At  one  time  the  plans  for  the  parish  school  were  quite  ambitious. 
Swedish,  English,  history,  geography,  some  of  the  elementary  sciences, 
and  music  were  taught.  In  fact  the  aim  was  to  make  it  a  fullblown 
grammar  school.  There  was  a  faculty  of  three  teachers.  .1.  F.  Ring, 
Emmy  Carlsson,  now  Mrs.  Emmy  Evald,  and  C.  .1.  Blomstrom. 

Among  other  full  time  teachers  are  noticed  such  names  as  A.  P. 
Monten,  A.  P.  Lindstrom,  V.  Tengwald,  all  later  pastors,  and  Rev.  .1. 
Mellander,  who  served  several  years  as  the  regular  associate  pastor. 
During  Dr.  Monten's  time  the  school  was  removed  to  the  new  church 
on  Sedgwick  and  Hobbie  Streets,  and  located  in  the  church  basement. 

Gradually  the  school  went  back  to'  its  original  character,  being  in 
session  only  during  a  few  weeks  of  the  summer.  The  teachers  were 
mostly  students  from  Rock  Island,  and  the  deaconesses  serving  in  the 
church. 

At  present  the  school  is  conducted  on  Saturday  forenoons,  during 
the  winter  season.  Since  only  Christianity  is  taught,  it  has  been 
called  the  Saturday  Bible  School.     Miss  lulla  Maguey,  the  parish  sec- 


The  Story  of  The  Immanuel  Lutheran  Church 


27 


THE   SATURDAY    BIBLE   SCHOOL 


retary,  is  in  charge 
excellent  quarters, 
five  pupils. 


In  the  new  parish  house  the  school  has  most 
Last   year  there  was   an   enrollment  of  seventy- 


The  First  Sunday  School 


The  Immanuel  Sunday  School  goes  hack  to  the  days  before  the 
congregation  was  organized.  The  first  traces  are  found  in  1850.  At 
that  time  it  was  conducted  together  with  the  Norwegian  Sunday 
School.  Among  the  teachers  was  the  now  world  famous  Dr.  I).  L. 
.Moody. 

When  the   Immanuel   congregation   secured  its  own  sanctuary  the 


Sunday  School  was  separated  from  the  Norwegian  School.  Dr.  Carls- 
son  was  the  first  superintendent.  Among  other  superintendents 
during  the  first  years,  we  find  P.  Erickson,  A.  .1.  Lindstrom,  Prof.  L. 
P.  Esbjorn. 

For  many  years  the  English  language  was  used  exclusively.  The 
parents  of  those  days  felt  that  since  the  language  of  the  country  was 
English,  it  was  well  that  their  children  should  receive  religious  train 
ing  in  that  language.  With  the  great  influx  of  immigrants  at  a  later 
period  this  attitude  was  modified.  Swedish  classes  were  organized, 
and  the  general  exercises,  for  a  time,  were  conducted  in  that  language. 
But  there  were  always  many  English  classes  in  the  school  and  at  one 


THE  SI  \l»  U    SC.1IOOF. 


THE  SLNDAV  SCHOOL   (Continued) 


The  Story  of  The  Immanuel  Lutheran  Church 


31 


time  an  exclusively  English  department,  which  met  on  Sunday  after- 
noons, was  organized  under  Mrs.  E.  W.  Lindeen's  direction.  In  using 
only  English  today,  we  have  gone  hack  to  the  original  position  taken 
by  the  founders  of  the  church. 

Bible  Classes 

To  keep  young  men  and  women  active  in  the  church  the  first  few 
years  after  their  confirmation,  will  always  he  a  problem.  To  meet 
this  the  Immanuel  congregation,  at  an  early  date,  established  English 
Bible  Classes.  The  records  make  special  mention  of  a  class  of  young 
women,  numbering  about  fifty,  taught  by  Mrs.  Annie  Evald.  The 
young  men  were  at  that  time  taught  by  Mr.  Henry  Schreils. 

The  most  flourishing  period  of  the  Bible  Class  department  was 
between  the  years  1883  and  11)11).  Eor  a  time  there  were  three  promi- 
nent classes  known  as  "Mrs.  Emmy  Evald's,"  "Mrs.  Mary  Mellander's," 
and  "Dr.  C.  A.  Evald's"  Bible  classes.  In  them  a  large  number  of 
young  people  were  instructed  and  kept  busy  with  church  work.  It  is 
reported,  that  when  they  occasionally  held  some  special  meeting  in 
common,  as  many  as  four  hundred  might  be  in  attendance.  Each 
class  had  its  own  organization  and  functioned  very  much  as  a  well 
regulated  Luther  League  ought  to  function.  Beside  the  Bible  study 
hour  there  was  other  activity,  such  as  visiting  the  sick  and  poor, 
especially  at  various  institutions  of  charity,  the  support  of  Home  and 
Foreign  Missions,  and  the  gathering  of  money  for  local  church 
support.  Sociability  was  also  a  laudable  part  of  the  program.  There- 
by the  demands  for  companionship,  normal  to  young  men  and  women, 
were  met  in  a  wholesome  way,  and  friendships  were  formed,  which 
later  became  the  foundation  of  many  of  the  best  homes  now  connected 
with  the  church.  The  need  for  English  in  the  church  was  also  met, 
at  least  in  part. 

Mrs.  Evald's  class  was  the  oldest  and  largest.  Mrs.  Evald  organ- 
ized this  class  in  1883,  and  continued  to  be  its  teacher  until  DO!).  Mrs. 
Mellander's  class  was  organized  in  1890.  The  confirmation  classes  of 
1885  and  1886  were  organized  into  one  Bible  Class,  and  a  little  later 
united  with  a  class  of  girls  taught  by  Mr.  Floreen.  Mr.  John  Block, 
now  a  member  of  the  Messiah  Church  in  Lake  View,  became  the 
teacher  of  the  united  class,  and  continued  in  this  capacity  until  1893. 


After  that  there  were  several  teachers  until  in  1900,  when  Dr.  Evald 
took  the  class  under  his  care.  Other  duties  hindered  him  from  teach- 
ing regularly,  but  the  class,  after  this,  carried  his  name.  As  a  rule, 
tbi'  active  teachers  were  the  student  pastors  employed  by  the  church. 

A  union  of  the  classes  into  one  English  Bible  Class  took  place  in 
1910.  After  the  merger  of  the  Bethel  and  Immanuel  congregations, 
the  class  met  in  the  Bethel  Chapel,  under  the  auspices  of  the  Luther 
League,  and  was  taught  by  the  present  pastor.  It  continued  for  a 
while  in  the  present  location,  being  taught  by  Miss  Edla  Maguey,  but 
gradually  it  was  absorbed  into  the  regular  Sunday  School  or- 
ganization. 

Other  Bible  classes  came  into  being  from  time  to  time.  Thus 
many  years  ago  a  Swedish  class  for  older  people,  was  organized. 
When  the  merger  took  place  this  class  was  in  a  flourishing  condition, 
which  is  shown  by  the  fact  that  it  was  able  to  contribute  no  less  than 
$500  to  the  building  fund.  Meetings  were  held  for  a  time  in  the  new 
location,  but  because  of  the  language  used,  and  for  other  reasons,  it 
could  not  readily  be  transplanted.  A  continuation  of  the  class  now 
forms  one  of  the  elements  of  strength  in  the  Central  Congregation 
on  the  old  field. 

Bible  classes  are  still  continued  but  are  now  directly  a  part  of 
the  Sunday  School.  At  the  present  time  there  are  three,  two  for  the 
young  men  and  one  for  the  young  women.  The  men's  classes  are 
taught  by  Mr.  Samuel  L.  Anderson  and  Mr.  Stuart  Goranson.  The 
young  women's  class  is  taught  by  Miss  Magney.  The  young  people's 
activities  formerly  belonging  to  the  Bible  Classes  are  now  taken  care 
of  by  the  Luther  League,  which  was  organized  September  15,  1914. 

Other  Sunday  School  Departments 

A  Home  Department  was  organized  in  191)2.  Sister  Tillie  Jones, 
while  serving  the  congregation  as  its  deaconess,  was  in  charge.  After 
she  left  the  work  fell  to  Mrs.  Melinda  Banks.  Mrs.  Banks  was  one 
of  the  most  active  members  of  recent  years.  She  took  part  in  many 
branches  of  religious  work,  within  and  without  the  congregation,  but 
her  greatest  service  was  given  to  the  old,  and  sick,  and  poor  on  the 
local  field.  She  combined  her  efforts  in  the  Home  Department  witb 
the  work  of  the  Tract  Society  of  which  she  was  the  secretary.     She 


32 


The  Story  of  The  Immanuel  Lutheran  Church 


was  called  to  her  reward  July  14,  11)25,  a  little  more  than  fifty-four 
years  of  age.  Other  hands  have  now  taken  up  her  labors,  and  the 
local  charity  work  has  steadily  increased  in  recent  years.  The  Home 
Departra<  nl,  as  a  special  department  of  the  Sunday  School,  has  been 
discontinued.  It  was  found  more  practical  to  do  the  work  in  other 
\\  aj  s. 

The  Cradle  Holl  Department  was  also  organized  in  1902.  At  the 
present  time  this  department  is  very  efficiently  conducted  by  Mrs.  N. 
P.  Nelson. 

The  school  has  an  excellent  Primary  Department.  The  present 
superintendent  is  Miss  Lillian  Ericsson.  She  brings  into  the  work  the 
results  of  her  specialized  training  in  teaching,  a  warm  love  for  little 
children,  and  a  devout  heart.  The  Primary  Department  was  organized 
by  Mrs.  Mary  Mellander  in  1894.  Mrs.  Emmy  Evald  had  charge  for 
many  years,  being  elected  in   1897. 

Sundaj  School  teacher's  meetings  have  been  held,  in  one  form  or 
another,  throughout  the  years.  For  the  present,  monthly  meetings  are 
being  held  in  connection  with  one  of  the  Thursday  evening  prayer 
services.  The  special  teacher's  training  part  of  the  session  is  in 
charge  of  Miss  Lillian   Ericsson. 

Sunday  School  Growth 

Up  to  the  fiftieth  anniversary  the  Sunday  School  kept  pretty  even 
pace,  in  growth,  with  the  congregation.  Thus  after  1872,  in  the 
sanctuary  on  Sedgwick  and  Hobbie  Streets,  the  school  rapidly  attained 
great  proportions.  There  are  no  records  extant  to  indicate  when 
the  greatest  number  was  reached,  but  reports  have  it  that  at  one  time 
the  school  was  rated  as  the  second  largest  in  the  Look  County  Associa- 
tion. One  year  no  less  than  2.2HU  Christmas  boxes  were  distributed. 
In  the  report  for  1902  the  total  membership  is  given  as  1,525,  and  the 
average  attendance  813.  The  financial  budget  for  the  years  1880 — 
11)1)2  reached  a  total  of  $20,050. 

Battling  Against  Odds 

The  years  that  followed  the  fiftieth  anniversary  became  more 
and  more  difficult.  The  members  were  moving  away  from  the  neigh- 
borhood of  the  church,  into  more  or  less  distant  parts  of  the  city,  and 


the  children,  in  many  cases,  were  joining  Sunday  Schools  nearer 
home.  One  of  the  causes  for  the  migration  was  that  facilities  for 
transportation  were  being  greatly  improved,  through  the  use  of 
electrical  power  on  the  street  cars,  and  later,  the  use  of  automobiles, 
so  that  it  was  unnecessary,  for  convenience  to  one's  work,  to  con- 
tinue living  in  the  congested  districts.  Another  cause  was  the  great 
influx  of  immigrants,  from  southern  Europe,  with  standards  of  living 
not  congenial  to  those  of  Nordic  stock.  The  newcomers  were  of  the 
Roman  Catholic  faith,  and  were  cared  for  by  that  denomination. 

The  church  suffered  through  the  Sunday  School.  When  the 
children  became  of  an  age  for  confirmation,  they  frequently  went  to 
the  nearest  church,  where  they  had  already  formed  attachments  in  the 
Sunday  School.  Frequently  the  parents,  not  wishing  the  family  to  be 
divided,  followed  the  children.  The  resulting  depletion  in  the  church 
membership  did  not  become  immediately  apparent,  because  tiie  re- 
nown  and  prestige  of  the  Immanuel  congregation  made  it  a  center  of 
attraction  to  those  arriving  in  the  city  from  other  parts  of  the  synod, 
and  from  across  the  waters. 

Dr.  Evald.  however,  was  awake  to  the  situation,  lb1  writes  in 
"Minnes-Skrift" :  "As  matters  have  been  shaping  themselves  the  List 
few  years,  a  chattel  ought  to  be  built  in  another  section  of  the  city, 
where  a  large  number  of  the  members  now  reside." 

The  rapidity  with  which  the  school,  in  spite  of  heroic  efforts  to 
stem  the  tide,  kept  losing  ground,  is  indicated  by  the  following  figures: 
the  average  attendance  in  li)l)2,  we  have  noted,  was  813;  in  19(1.')  it 
had  gone  down  to  7(i();  in  11)11)  to  390;  in  1918,  the  year  of  the  merger. 
to  22a.  In  1922,  when  the  congregation  turned  over  the  old  church 
and  field  to  the  Illinois  Conference,  the  enrollment,  on  that  field,  was 
about  11(0.  Being  desirous  that  this  number,  as  far  as  possible,  might 
he  conserved,  the  school,  then  established  in  its  present  location  left 
the  assistant  superintendent,  Mr.  George  II.  Nelson,  in  charge.  He 
served  until  a  permanent  pastor  had  come  to  the  field. 

Tlii'  figures  quoted  indicate  that  the  merger  came  at  an  opportune 
time.  In  the  year  1922  the  school  which  met  in  the  Bethel  Chapel, 
numbered  21'),").  The  enrollment  of  the  present  school  as  reported  in 
1926  was  :S7(i. 


THE  SUNDAY   SCHOOL  TEACHERS   AND  OFFICERS   1927 


J  111-:  CRADLE  ROLL   L927  MRS.  X.   P.  NELSON,  Superintendent 


The  Story  of  The  Immanuel  Lutheran  Church 


35 


Organization  and   Officers 

From  the  beginning  until  the  year  1920  the  Sunday  Sehool  func- 
tioned as  an  independent  organization,  electing  its  own  teachers  and 
officers,  deciding  upon  the  lesson  material  and  reporting  directly  to 
the  congregation.  The  relation  of  the  school  to  the  Board  of  Deacons 
was,  however,  always  cordial.  In  1!)2()  it  was  thought  best  to  obey  the 
letter,  as  well  as  the  spirit,  of  the  congregation's  constitution,  and  the 
school  was  placed  directly  under  the  Board  of  Deacons.  The  deacons 
now  appoint  the  staff  of  workers,  all  matters  pertaining  to  the  general 
management  of  the  school  are  referred  to  them  for  final  decision,  and 
the  annual  report  of  the  school  is  received  and  acted  upon  by  them. 

Mr.  .Samuel  L.  Anderson  was  the  superintendent  when  the  con- 
gregation took  possession  of  the  new  field.  He  also  has  the  distinc- 
tion of  having  served  for  a  longer  period  than  any  other  superinten- 
dent. He  was  the  successor  to  a  long  line  of  capable  and  consecrated 
men.  Those  who  served  as  superintendents  for  a  period  of  five  years 
or  more,  are:  John  A.  Block,  Rev.  J.  Mellander,  Fred  F.  Hallberg  and 
(i.  A.  ().  Engstrom.  Mr.  Anderson  was  elected  in  1913  and  served  un- 
til l!)2(i,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  the  present  superintendent,  Mr. 
George  11.  Nelson. 

When  the  merger  took  place  there  were  two  men  with  unique 
records  of  service,  in  the  corps  of  workers,  viz.  Herman  M.  Thorsson 
and  Andrew  Thelander.  Both  have  now  gone  to  their  reward.  Mr. 
Thorsson  served  the  school  for  twenty-seven  years,  as  the  secretary, 
being  first  elected  in  lcXD.'i.  He  and  the  school  became  widely  known 
through  the  "Thorsson  System  of  Record  Cards,"  which  he  originated. 
Mi'.  Thelander  was  the  school's  treasurer  for  thirty-three  years.  He 
was  first  elected  in  1890. 

The  present  secretary  is  Mr.  C.  F.  Peterson.  He  is  one  of  the 
pioneers  of  the  Bethel  Church.  He  has  served  as  secretary  of  the  Im- 
manuel Sunday  School  since  1920.  The  treasurer's  office  is  filled 
by  Mr.  Stuart  Goranson,  elected  in  1923.  He  has  also  a  good  record 
from  Bethel  days.  Both  of  these  men  are  members  of  the  Board  of 
Deacons. 

Confirmation 

In  her  system  of  catechetical  instruction,  followed  by  the  rite  of 
confirmation,  the  Lutheran  Church  has  a  means,  of  exceptional  merit, 


for  the  ingathering  and  fostering  of  an  intelligent  and  consecrated 
membership.  The  Immanuel  Church,  like  all  pioneer  Lutheran 
churches,  used  this  method  from  the  first,  in  spite  of  attacks  by  those 
of  looser  conceptions,  who  called  it  "popish."  When  we  contemplate 
the  throngs  that  this  church  has  been  privileged  to  instruct  in  the 
fundamentals  of  the  Christian  faith,  and  the  numbers  that  have  been 
won  for  a  life  of  consecration  in  fellowship  with  Jesus,  we  thank 
God,  and  pray  for  grace  to  continue  the  work,  faithfully,  to  His  glory. 
Many  confirmed  here  are  occupying  positions  of  leadership  in  our 
own  church,  and  in  other  churches  in  Chicago  and  throughout  the 
land.  Many  others  have  gone  to  their  reward,  after  lives  of  usefulness 
in  spiritual  service. 

The  largest  number  confirmed,  during  any  one  year,  was  in  l!)l)2. 
That  year  sixty-eight  were  confirmed  in  the  English  language,  and 
forty-nine  in  the  Swedish,  a  total  of  one  hundred  and  seventeen.  The 
second  largest  year  was  in  1<S!I7,  with  a  total  of  ninety-six.  The  first 
class  was  confirmed  on  April  17,  LS54.     It  had  seven  members. 


The  Annual   Reunion. 

In  1903,  through  the  instrumentality  of  Mrs.  Emmy  Evald,  a  re- 
union of  former  confirmation  classes  was  held,  in  connection  with 
the  jubilee  celebration.  A  reunion  with  a  large  attendance  has  since 
been  held  each  year.  The  sentiments  attached  to  these  gatherings 
are  really  remarkable.  They  witness  to  the  deep  impressions  left 
on  the  mind  and  heart  of  boys  and  girls  during  confirmation  days. 
They  witness,  as  well,  to  the  lasting  friendships,  which  are  then 
formed. 

An  individual,  who  from  the  first  reunion  and  until  1923  attracted 
special,  kindly  attention,  was  Mrs.  Ellen  (S.  F.)  Carlson.  She  was 
confirmed  in  the  second  class.  May  211,  1855.  In  her  prime  she  was  an 
efficient  Sunday  School  teacher  and  worker  in  the  chinch.  Her  hus- 
band, who  died  in  1900,  was  for  many  years  a  prominent  deacon,  and 
a  leader  in  the  Tract  Society.  This  consecrated  couple  willed  their 
property  to  the  Tract  Society,  that  it  might  he  used  in  works  of 
charity. 


36 


The  Story  of  The  Immanuel  Lutheran  Church 


There  are  still  a  number  of  representatives  at  the  annual  re- 
unions, who  were  confirmed  when  the  congregation  worshipped  in 
thi'  edifice  on  Superior  Street. 

The  First   English  Confirmation 

The  first  English  confirmation  took  place  in  18(53.  This  is  how- 
it  came  about.  In  the  cholera  year,  (1854)  when  so  many  immigrants 
died,  great  numbers  of  children  lost  their  parents.  Many  of  them 
were  taken  in  charge  by  the  "Protestant  Orphan's  Asylum"  in  Chi- 
cago, and  turned  over,  practically  as  chattels,  to  people  in  different 
parts  of  the  country.  Under  the  state  laws,  those  who  received  them 
might  retain  the  girls  until  eighteen,  and  the  boys  until  twenty-one, 
years  of  age. 

Two  such  children,  a  brother  and  sister,  had  been  sent  to  Sanga- 
mon County,  near  Springfield.  When  they  reached  the  usual  age  for 
confirmation,  they  were  seized  with  a  longing  to  find  folks  of  their 
own  nationality,  so  that  they  might  be  confirmed,  as  their  lather  and 
mother  had  been.  They  ran  away,  but  at  the  station  in  Chicago,  they 
were  apprehended  by  the  police,  and  returned  to  their  keepers.  A 
while  later  they  ran  away  again,  and  now  being  wiser  through  their 
first  experience,  they  left  the  train  before  it  reached  Chicago,  making 
the  last  miles  of  the  journey  on  foot.  A  few  other  "cholera"  orphans, 
living  in  Chicago,  also  desired  to  be  confirmed.  All  of  them  had,  of 
course,  forgotten  the  Swedish  language.  As  the  pastor  did  not  wish 
to  instruct  in  both  languages,  and  as  the  other  children  about  to  be 
confirmed,  had  no  objections,  it  was  decided  that  all  should  use 
English. 

The  congregation  still  has  a  member  on  its  register  from  that 
class,  viz..  Miss  Anna  Elm.  She  has  been  eared  for,  a  number  of  years, 
by   the    Immanuel    Deaconess    Institute    at    Omaha. 

As  far  back  as  forty-five  years  ago  English  classes  were  being 
confirmed  each  year.  It  was  not  long  until  the  English  classes  were 
the  larger.  After  1916  the  designation  "English"  and  "Swedish" 
(hisses  dissapears  from  the  church  records.  Since  1(11!),  instruction 
has  been  given  exclusively  in  English. 


MISS  ANNA   ELM 


Getting   Free   of   Debt 

When  Dr.  C.  A.  Evald  became  the  pastor  there  was  a  debt  on  the 
Immanuel  Church  property  amounting  to  $21,558.  In  1877  a  sub- 
scription was  put  on.  which  in  pledges  amounted  to  $17,509.  ["he 
time  for  making  payments  stretched  'over  a  live  year  period.  For 
this,  and  other  reasons,  cash  was  realized  so  slowly  that  as  it  came 
in,  it  served  to  pay  hardly  more  than  the  accruing  interest.  After  the 
five  >car  period,  or  in  1882,  the  matter  was  taken  in  hand  again.  This 
time  the  whole  membership  was  canvassed  by  the  pastor  and  Mr. 
Jakob  Soderberg.  That  the  pastor  might  have  lime  for  the  subscrip- 
tion  work,  Rev.   C.  P.   Rydholm   was  called   to   assist    in    the   pastoral 


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Confirmation  £lass 1997 


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1111.   1927   CONFIRMATION   CLASS 


38 


The  Story  of  The  Immanuel  Lutheran  Church 


This  page  is  gratefully  dedicated  to  our  Pastors'  wives  who  have  served  with  lovt 
and  devotion,  giving  their  time  and  energy  to  the  upbuilding  of  our  church. 


Mils.   I.Y  \   CHARLOTTA  CARLSSON 


MRS.  ANNIE  EVALD 


mhs.  km  my  i:\.\i.i) 


The  Si  >uy  of  The  Immanuel  Lutheran  Church 


39 


This  page  is  gratefully  dedicated  to  our  Pastors'  wives  who  hove  served  with  love 
and  devotion,  giving  their  time  and  energy  to  the  upbuilding  oj  our  church. 


r3                     jf          ffi 

MRS.  E.  K.  JONSON 


MRS.  I'ETER   I'ETERSOX 


MRS.  C.  O.  RENGTSON 


40 


The  Story  of  The  Tmmanuel  Lutheran  Church 


r.     r 


MI.MIU.Ils  SINCE  THE  sri'KHloli  STREET   ]>A\N 


duties.  The  money  realized  from  this  canvass,  together  with  a  sum 
of  $2,358.30  from  old  pledges,  reduced  the  debt,  by  January  1,  1884. 
In  $6,700.  In  that  year  a  hist  effort  was  made,  enthusiasm  having  been 
aroused  by  the  promise  of  a  large  individual  gift,  winch  promise,  bj 
the  way,  was  never  redeemed.  By  January  1,  188"),  the  church  was 
free  of  debt,  and  a  praise  service  was  held  on  January  18.  at  which 
time  Dr.  Erland  Carlsson,  Dr.  T.  N.  Hasselquist,  and  Prof.  0.  Olson, 
were   the  speakers. 

Dr.  Evald's  associate  in  the  financial  canvass.  Mr.  Jakob  Sodcr- 
berg,  was  one  of  those  men  of  ability  and  consecration,  who  have  set 
their   mark    plainly    on    the    inner   life    and    progress    of    the    Imnianuel 


Church,  lie  was  a  kind  man.  whom  everyone  loved.  He  served  as  a 
deacon,  1876 — 1898.  lie  gave  himself,  heart  and  soul,  to  the  work  of 
the  Tract  Society.  For  many  years  he  was  a  regular  visitor  at 
Augustana  Hospital,  going  from  bed  to  bed,  bringing  to  the  patients 
(he  Word  of  Life.  He  selected  a  place  for  himself  near  the  church 
door,  where  he  might  be  found  readily  by  the  many  strangers,  whom 
he  invited  to  the  services  week  by  week.  He  died  on  Max  'A.  1909,  a 
little  more  than  seventy-seven  years  of  age. 


lollUll  GENERATION   MEMBERS 


The  Story  of  The  Immanuel  Lutheran  Church 


41 


TIIIHI)  GENERATION   MEMBERS 


Improvements 

In  1886  the  church  steeple  was  built,  and  equipped  with  a  clock 
r.nd  three  bells.    The  cos!  of  this  was  $4,354.70. 

The  church  destroyed  in  the  fire  was  equipped  with  a  line  organ. 
costing  $3,000.  Alter  the  lire  it  was  out  of  the  question  to  secure  an- 
other organ.  For  several  months  Mr.  L.  E.  Lindberg's  orchestra  led 
the  church  singing.  In  1875  a  rebuilt  pipe  organ  was  purchased.  II 
was  never  satisfactory,  but  none-the-lcss,  was  used  until  1891",  when 
it  was  sold  to  a  Catholic  Church.     In  18!)2  the  organ,  which  still  serves 


to  good  purpose  in  the  Central  Church,  was  installed.  As  it  was 
placed  at  the  front,  over  and  behind  the  pulpit  and  altar,  the  church 
interior  was  considerably  remodeled.  The  entire  cost  of  this  was 
$6,000.  To  provide  the  funds  a  special  society  was  organized  and  in- 
corporated. When  the  bills  had  all  been  paid,  in  1894,  the  society 
disbanded. 

The  congregation  was  in  debt  again  in  1901,  to  the  amount  of 
$5,735.  This  was  cleared  off  by  1903,  so  that  the  fiftieth  jubilee  was 
celebrated   free  of  indebtedness. 


WOHSIIII'TKUS  AT  A   MORNING  SERVICE 


WORSHIPPERS  AT  A  MORNING  SERVICE  (Continued) 


WORSHIPPERS  AT   A    MORNING   SERVICE   (Continued) 


The  Story  of  The  Immanuel  Lutheran  Church 


45 


sisi  i;i;  ai.i.h:  G  \ss\i  w 


SISTKR  TILLIE  JONES 


SISTER   FIUDA   HAFF 


k* 


MM  EH    I   I  \  \    .IDll  WSUN 


Deaconesses  who  have  served  the  Immanuel  Church. 


46 


The  Story  of  The  Immanuel  Lutheran  Church 


rev.  .iuiin  \ii:i,i,AMii;it 


MRS.   M  \I!V    MELLANDER 


The  Story  of  The  Immanuel  Lutheran  Church 


47 


REV.  HERBERT  \V.   LINDEN 


MISS.   HERBERT  W.   I, INDIA 


A   Forward    Look 

In  INS!)  another  canvass,  which  brought  in  some  over  $4,000",  was 
made  by  Rev.  J.  Mellander  and  Mr.  S.  F.  Carlson.  The  purpose  was  to 
provide  money  for  a  building  that  would  serve  as  a  parish  school 
bouse,  a  young  people's  center,  and  a  chapel  for  English  worship. 
Rev.  .1.  Mellander  was  called  as  the  regular  associate  pastor,  lie  was 
to  teach  the  parish  school,  supervise  the  young  people's  activities,  and 
assist,  especially  in  the  English  preaching.  No  doubt,  the  need  for 
English  services  must  have  been  pressing,  before  this  step  was  taken. 
Xever-the-less,  it  indicates  admirable  vision  on  the  pastor's  and  the 
people's  part. 

The  plan  was  not  realized.  The  money  was  somehow  diverted  to 
other  purposes.  In  "Minnesskrift"  Dr.  Evald  deplores  Ibis  fact  in 
strong  language. 


The    Chapel    Is    Built 

Looking  at  the  matter  from  a  purely  human  point  of  view  it 
stems  that  the  Immanuel  people  might  have  been  spared  many  wor- 
ries, losses,  and  heart-aches,  if  their  decision  to  build  a  chapel  at  that 
time,  had  been  carried  to  completion,  but  by  the  grace  of  Cod,  even  in 
this  matter,  all   things  eventually  worked  together  for  good. 

In  1907  an  English  mission  was  started  in  the  Edgewater  district. 
In  11*11  this  mission  built  a  Chapel  on  Rosedale  and  Clcnwood  Ave- 
nues. The  official  name  of  the  mission  became  the  Evangelical 
Lutheran  Bethel  Church. 

It  happened  that  many  Immanuel  members  made  their  homes  on 
the  field  of  the  Bethel  Church.  Neighbor  met  neighbor,  and  the  prob- 
lems of  both  the  churches  were  frequently  discussed.  Little  by  little, 
it  came  to  he  recognized  that  the  problems  of  each  church  interlocked 
at  several  points.  The  eventual  result  was  a  merger  of  the  two 
churches,  in  the  fall  of  1918. 

In  this  way  Cod  provided  the  Immanuel  Church  with  the  chapel 
which  it  needed  for  English  work.  He  did  much  more.  He  opened 
up  a  door  of  new  opportunity  on  a  promising  field.  Those  who  have 
borne  the  brunt  during  the  trying  days  of  transition,  ushered  in  by 
the  merger,  can  bear  testimony  to  divine  guidance  in  that  which  has 
come  to  pass. 

Some   Statistics 

Some  interesting  figures  are  found  in  a  statement  of  church  fin- 
ances, prepared  by  Dr.  J.  E.  Rehnstrom  and  Mr.  1'.  P.  Thorson,  cover- 
ing the  period  1854—1901.  The  total  amount  expended  was  *42<i,818.74. 
This  does  not  include  money  given  to  special  purposes,  such  as  mis- 
sions and  charities,  by  the  organizations  of  the  church.  The  outlay 
was  as  follows:  $76,826.21  was  spent  on  church  property;  $135,502.32 
was  paid  in  salaries;  missions,  and  charities  received  ss(>7,48.">.f)4;  Un- 
balance was  paid  on   loans  and   interest. 

From  the  church  records  we  learn,  that  the  largest  number  of 
baptisms,  during  any  one  year,  was  273.  That  was  in  1887,  the  yeai 
which  also  had  the  largest  number  of  marriages,  l(i(i  in  all.  The 
largest  accession  of  communicants  was  back  in  l<Sli7.  In  that  year 
330  were  received.  The  largest  total  communicant  membership  re- 
ported is  1,563.      That  was  in  the  year  1889. 


48 


The  Story  of  The  Immanuel  Lutheran  Church 


J 

• 

DR.  G.    \.  BRANDELLE 
Prcsidenl  of  the  Augustana  Synod 


REV.   P.   ARTHUR  JOHNSON 
President  of  the    issoeiation  of  Englisli  Churches 


The  Story  of  The  Immanuel  Lutheran  Church 


49 


DR.  ('..  ().  GRANERE 
Member 


MRS.  C.  o.  GRANERE 
Member 


REV.  AUGUST  EDGREN 
Member 


MRS.   ALBERTINA   SETTERDAHL 
Member 


Publications 

For  the  past  thirty-seven  years  a  parish  paper,  which  makes  its 
appearance  the  second  Sunday  of  each  month,  has  been  published. 
The  pastors  have  been  the  editors.  The  management  is  in  the  hands 
of  the  Board  of  Trustees.  Mr.  H.  J.  Erickson  has  been  the  business 
manager  for  many  years,  and  under  his  tireless  supervision  the  paper 
in  its  form  and  make-up,  has  been  a  credit  to  the  church.  The  publi- 
cation is  financed  by  paid  advertisements  and  donations  from  the 
church  organizations.  It  contains  brief  devotional  articles,  a  review 
of  the  happenings  in  the  organizations  and  the  church  in  general, 
special  articles  on  topics  uppermost,  for  the  time,  on  the  congrega- 
tion's program,  brief  biographies  of  departed  members,  and  editorial 
comments.  The  publication  has  proved  itself  of  value  as  a  stimulus  to 
the  church  work,  and  as  a  means  of  preserving  interesting  historical 
data.    The  present  name  is  "The  Immanuel  Review."     It  was  adopted 


at  the  annual  meeting  on  January  1,  1920.  The  previous  name  was 
"Forsamlingsviinnen."  The  first  issue  appeared  in  .March  1890.  The 
largest  issues  were  the  special  Christmas  numbers  in  December,  1926 
and  1927. 

A  folder  is  distributed  each  Sunday.  It  contains  an  outline  for 
the  services  of  the  day,  the  weekly  announcements,  and  brief  com- 
ments. This  removes  the  necessity  of  making  oral  announcements 
at  the  worship. 

In  connection  with  the  jubilee  celebration  in  1!)()3.  the  congrega- 
tion published  an  elaborate  and  handsome  book,  entitled  "Minnes- 
Skrift."  The  editorial  and  management  committee  consisted  of  the 
following:  Dr.  C.  A.  Evald,  Mrs.  Emmy  Evald,  Mr.  P.  A.  Peterson, 
Mr.  Andrew  Thelander,  Mr.  Samuel  Anderson,  and  Mr.  Fred  E.  Hall- 
berg.  This  volume  represents  prodigious  labor,  and  will  increasingly 
be  of  value  as  an   historical  source  book. 


50 


The  Story  of  The  Immanuel  Lutheran  Church 


DR.   .11  I. US    LINCOLN 
Member 


MRS.  JULIUS   LINCOLN 
Member 


The   Jubilee   Celebration    1903 

The  fiftieth  anniversary  of  the  congregation's  organization  was 
fittingly  taken  note  of,  by  a  series  of  services  and  other  festivities, 
January  15 — 1!). 

The  celebration  began  on  Thursday  evening,  January  lf>th,  with  a 
service  of  memorial  dedicated  to  the  departed  members.  Dr.  M.  C. 
Ranseen  and  Dr.  R.  F.  Weidner  were  the  speakers.  (Dr.  Weidner  at 
one  time  assisted  Dr.  Evald  for  a  period,  with  English  preaching.) 

On  Friday  forenoon  a  lull  morning  service  was  conducted,  al 
which  the  speakers  were,  Dr.  L.  G.  Abrahamson  and  Dr.  S.  P.  A.  Lin- 
dahl.  In  the  evening  the  special  anniversary  service  was  held.  Dr. 
Evald  gave  a  brief  synopsis  of  the  congregation's  history.  The  other 
speakers   were,  Dr.  A.  I'.   .Montcn,  Dr.  Carl   Swensson,  and  Dr.  A.  W. 

Dahlsten. 


On  Saturday  the  women  of  the  church  held  two  sessions,  one  in 
thi'  afternoon  and  one  in  the  evening.  Between  the  two  sessions  a 
banquet  was  given  in  the  church  basement.  .">-<S  o'clock,  at  which  Dr. 
Evald  served  as  the  toastmaster. 

Sunday  morning  a  festive  Sunday  School  session  was  held.  8-1(1 
o'clock.  Holy  Communion  was  celebrated,  with  the  full  morning 
liturgy  at  10:30  o'clock.  Dr.  Conrad  Kind  Lindberg  gave  Ihe  com- 
munion address,  and  Dr.  Carl  Swensson  preached  the  sermon.  Sun- 
day afternoon  was  given  over  to  the  English  Bible  Classes  and  Sun- 
day evening  the  first  reunion  of  confirmation  classes  was  held.  Mon- 
day evening  the  Immanuel  Society,  a  literary  organization,  gave  a 
program. 

The  speakers,  aside  from  those  already  mentioned,  whose  names 
appear  on  one  or  more  of  the  programs,  are  as  follows:  Mrs.  Hanna 
Lindeen,  Rev.  V.  Tengwald,  Mrs.  Then  Tengwald,  Mrs.  Ida  Sannqvist. 
Sister  Allie  Gassman,  Mrs.  Aqvilina  Josephson,  Dr.  Erik  Norelius,  Rev. 
Emil  Hoffsten,  Rev.  Albin  Jacobson,  Sam.  E.  Carlson.  Dr.  P.  Win. 
Thorelius,  Herman  M.  Thorsson,  Mrs.  Emmy  Evald,  Mrs.  Eva  Carls- 
son,  Miss  Hilda  Hedin,  Mrs.  Mary  Mellander,  Mrs.  C.  Engstrom,  Rev. 
J.  Forsberg,  Gustaf  Engstrom,  Dr.  J.  Peters,  Rev.  J.  Mellander,  Rev. 
A.  Hult,  Rev.  J.  G.  Princell,  P.  X.  Sjogren,  Albert  Okerstrom,  S.  (i. 
Hiigglund,  E.  K.  Jonson,  Dr.  J.  A.  Enander,  Miss  Anna  Evald. 

Special  music  and  singing  was  furnished  by  the  following:  Mr. 
Emil  Larson,  the  church  organist,  the  Vesper  Choir,  Gunnar  Liljen- 
stolpe,  Miss  Margaret  Dahlstrom,  the  Church  Choir.  Olof  Valley. 
Lyran,  Carl  Olson,  Miss  Ellen  Nilsson,  Miss  Louise  Larson.  Mrs. 
Christine  Engstrom,  Miss  Sigrid  Engberg,  Concordia  Sextette,  Sunday 
School,  Infant  Department,  Edith  Thorsson.  Win,  Dahlen.  Mr.  Christ- 
enson,  Miss  Lydia  Swenson,  the  Misses  Lanquist,  Male  Quartette. 

Such  large  numbers  attended  some  of  the  sessions,  that  it  was 
found  necessary  to  issue  tickets  of  admission. 

Dr.  Carl   A.  Evald 

Dr.  Evald  was  installed,  as  we  have  noted,  on  April  4,  1875,  He 
slipped  into  a  place  of  great  activity,  with  many  and  varied  require- 
ments. But  it  soon  became  evident  that  God  had,  once  more,  provided 
just  the  right  man  for  the  Immanuel  Church. 


The  Story  of  The  Immanuel  Lutheran  Church 


51 


Dr.  Carl  A.  Evald  was  horn  in  the  parish  of  Kihl,  province  of 
Orebro,  Sweden,  .May  25,  1X4!).  His  parents  were  Anders  and  Christina 
Anderson.  At  the  age  of  ten  he  was  sent  to  the  higher  public  school 
of  the  province,  where  he  spent  seven  years,  graduating  in  1868. 
Being  poor,  he  served  as  tutor  in  wealthy  families.  He  also  pursued 
private  studies  with  the  object  of  fitting  himself  for  the  ministry. 
He  had  early  come  to  a  personal  conviction  of  sin,  and  an  experience 
of  the  life  hid  with  Christ  in  Cod. 

He  began  preaching  at  the  age  of  nineteen,  anil  in  1871,  then 
twenty-two  years  of  age,  he  was  the  companion  of  the  famous 
preacher.  Rev.  P.  A.  Ahlherg,  on  a  mission  tour  through  the  province 
of  Smaland. 

In  the  fall  of  1871  he  came  to  America,  and  took  up  studies  at  the 
Augustana  Seminary  in  Paxton.  On  a  call  from  the  Augustana  Church 
in  Minneapolis,  he  was  ordained  in  1872,  and  continued  in  that  church 
until  he  came  to  Chicago. 

Dr.  Evald  was  married  to  Miss  Annie  Carlsson,  a  daughter  of  Dr. 
and  Mrs.  Erland  Carlsson,  October  4,  1 87(5.  She  died  in  Stockholm, 
Sweden,  November  27,  1880.  On  May  24,  1883,  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Emmy  Carlsson,  a  sister  of  his  former  wife.  This  union  was  blessed 
with  two  daughters,  Anna,  now  Mrs.  C.  E.  Hoffsten,  the  wife  of  Dr. 
Hoffsten,  pastor  of  the  English  Grace  Church  of  Chicago,  and  Lillian, 
now  Mrs.  Amel  R.  Carlson.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Carlson  are  valued  members 
of  the  Immanuel  Church. 

Of  Dr.  Evald's  ministry  in  the  Immanuel  Church,  Dr.  M.  C. 
Ranseen  has  written  in  effect:  "The  blessing  which  the  Cord,  through 
Dr.  Evald's  service  of  thirty-four  years,  has  bestowed  upon  this  con- 
gregation can  not  be  evaluated,  and  immeasurable,  also,  is  the  whole- 
some influence  which  the  congregation,  at  the  same  time,  has  exerted 
on  the  progress  of  the  church  work  in  general,  not  only  in  Chicago, 
but  throughout  the  whole  synod.  Dr.  Evald's  greatest  strength  was 
in  the  pulpit.  In  oratorical  abilities  he,  no  doubt,  as  yet  remains  un- 
surpassed among  Swedish  Evangelical  Lutheran  preachers  in  America. 
Hut  to  the  degree  that  he  was  painstaking  with  his  sermons,  to  that 
same  degree  he  was  zealous  in  his  personal  pastoral  duties.  Early 
and  late  he  made  visits  to  the  poor,  sick  and  needy,  whenever  he  was 
called,  spoke  words  of  comfort  and  encouragement,  and  gave  help 
where  he  could." 


REV.  C.  A.  o.  ENGSTROM 
Member  at  Ordination 


MRS.  (1.  .\.  ().  ENGSTROM 
Former  Member 


Of  his  personal  characteristics  Dr.  Ranseen  writes:  "In  spite  of  his 
great  abilities  one  never  found  in  him  the  least  evidence  of  con- 
descension. The  big  'I'  was  kept  well  suppressed,  and  although  we 
live  in  a  time  when  folks  compete  for  earthly  honors,  we  do  not  find 
him,  no,  not  for  one  moment,  engaged  in  such  pursuits.  lie  was 
never  touchy  or  stubborn.  One  must  be  of  a  strange'  disposition,  if 
one  could  not  remain  on  congenial  terms,  with  this  man  of  peace." 

Dr.  Evald  filled  many  positions  of  trust  outside  of  his  own 
church.  For  more  than  twenty  years  he  was  a  member  of  the 
Augustana  Hospital  Hoard.  For  a  short  period  he  was  the  secretary 
of  the  Minnesota  Conference.  lie  held  the  same  office  in  the  Illinois 
Conference,  and  later  was  the  conference  president.  He  was  on  the 
hoard  of  the  Chicago  Lutheran  Seminary,  the  Chicago  Bible  Society 
etc.,  etc. 


52 


The  Story  of  The  Immanuel  Lutheran  Church 


DR.   EM.IL   G.   CHINLUND 
Baptized  and  Confirmed  in  Immanui 


MRS.   HEDWIG   LINDORFF 
Member 


As  a  writer  he  possessed  no  mean  ability.  He  was  editor  of 
several  important  publications,  and  contributed  article's  to  several 
others.     He  frequently  wrote'  over  the  pen  name  "Urbanus." 

Aiter  months  of  illness  Dr.  Evald  \v;is  called  to  his  eternal  re- 
ward on  March  13,  1909.  He  was  fifty-nine  years,  nine  months,  and 
eighteen  days  of  age.  Exceeding  great  sorrow  Tilled  the  hearts  of  the 
Immanuel  people  when  they  learned  that  their  beloved  pastor  was 
gone.  The  future  seemed  gloomy.  But  Dr.  Evald  had  built  on  a 
firm  foundation,  and  though  he  laid  down  the  tools,  the  work 
endured. 

Mrs.  Emmy   Evald 

The  name  Mrs.  Emmy  Evald  occurs  more  frequently  In  the  story 
of  the  Immanuel  Church  than  that  of  any  other  member.  She  was 
born  in  Geneva,  Illinois,  September  IN,  1<S."»7.    Geneva  was  at  the  time 

served   hv  her  lather.  Dr.   Krlaiid  Carlsson,  as  a  part   of  the   Immanuel 


pastorate.  Even  as  a  girl  Mis.  Evald  took  a  leading  part  in  tin 
church  work.  Later,  as  Dr.  C.  A.  Evald's  wife  for  twenty-six  years, 
her  remarkable  gifts  of  leadership  were  used  unstintedly  for  service 
in  the  congregation.  After  the  death  of  Dr.  Evald  she  joined  the 
Salem,  and  later  the  Bethel  Church,  where  she  was  a  member  at  the 
time  of  the  merger.     She  thus  rejoined  Immanuel  in  1918. 

But  Mrs.  Evald's  leadership  goes  far  beyond  the  Immanuel 
Church.  She  is  today,  without  question,  the  most  widelj  known 
American  woman  of  Swedish  descent,  and  one  of  the  foremosl 
Lutheran  women  of  the  country.  At  the  religious  congress  in  connec- 
tion with  the  World's  Fair  in  1893,  she  was  chairman  of  the  Lutheran 
women's  division,  where  representative  Lutheran  women  were  pre- 
sent from  Sweden,  Norway,  Denmark,  Germany,  Iceland,  India,  and 
America. 

She  has  been  a  champion  of  women's  rights,  and  a  leader  and 
founder  of  religious  and  general   welfare   enterprises,   too   numerous 


MISS   MAY   ('..   MELLANDER 
Member 


IM(.    It.    1'.    WEIDNER 


The  Story  of  The  Immanuel  Lutheran  Church 


53 


to  mention.  As  a  recognition  of  her  unique  distinction  she  was 
decorated  in  1921,  by  the  king  of  Sweden,  with  the  Medal  of  the 
Order  of  Vasa.  Her  latest  great  undertaking  was  a  trip  around  the 
world,  as  the  representative  of  the  Woman's  Mission  Society  of  the 
Augustana  Synod.  She  visited  mission  stations  and  institutions  in 
China  and  India,  the  Holy  Land  and  Sweden.  Because  of  the  war 
in  China  this  was  a  very  hazardous  and  adventurous  trip,  but  it  was 
made  without  mishap. 

Mrs.  Evald's  greatest  service  has  been  as  the  president  of  the 
Synodical  Woman's  Mission  Society,  which  she  founded  some  thirty- 
five  years  ago. 

An   Interim 

During  Dr.  Evald's  illness  Rev.  Alfred  Appell  lor  a  time  served 
the  congregation.  After  Dr.  Evald's  death  the  congregation  was 
served  by  Prof.  S.  G.  Youngert,  and  later  by  Rev.  Martin  Hess. 


*     1 

L 

i    m 

l^^M 

inHI 

REV.  V.  .1.  TENGWALD 
Former  Parish  Teacher 


MARTIN    A.   LINDBERG 
Member 


ANDREW    LANQUIST 
Member 


MRS.   V.  .1.  TENGWALP 
Former  Member 


On  September  14,  1909,  the  congregation  convened  and  issued  a 
call  to  Rev.  E.  1\.  Jonson,  then  in  the  Zion  Church  at  Hock  Island,  to 
become  the  permanent  pastor.  Dr.  Youngert  acted  as  chairman  of 
I  he  meeting. 

Rev.  Elof  K.  Jonson 

Rev.  Jonson  accepted  the  call  and  took  charge  on  Xew  Year's  Day, 
1910.  As  a  student  he  had  assisted  Dr.  Evald  one  year.  1901-2,  and  had 
won  the  admiration  of  both  young  and  old.  The  congregation  re- 
joiced at  his  coming,  and  took  up  the  work  once  more  with  renewed 
courage.  Rev.  Jonson  was  installed  the  Second  Sunday  in  Lent,  in 
February,  1911.  Rev.  1-'.  A.  hinder,  president  of  Hie  Illinois  Con- 
ference, officiated. 

On  April  2<S,  1912,  a  touching  service  in  memory  of  Dr.  Evald  was 
held.      The   occasion    for    the   service    was   that    the   congregation    had 


54 


The  Story  of  The  Immanuel  Lutheran  Church 


just  erected  ;i  monument  ;it  his  last  resting  place  in  the  Graceland 

Cemetery.  Mayor  Carter  II.  Harrison  was  represented  at  the  service 
by  the  Commissioner  of  Buildings  Henry  Ericsson.  Dr.  M.  C.  Ranseen 
delivered  an  address. 

An  imposing  sixtieth  anniversary  celebration,  covering  the  better 
part  of  two  weeks,  look  place  in  January,  1913.  That  same  year  the 
synod  convened  in  the  Immanuel  Church  in  June.  At  that  convention 
the  present  pastor,  on  June  15th,  was  ordained. 

The  most  pronounced  characteristic  of  Rev.  Jonson's  pastorate 
was  intensive  home  mission  activity.  The  first  year  he  inspired  the 
organization  of  a  men's  society  to  canvass  the  community  and  gather 
people  into  the  church.  Sister  Tillie  Jones,  the  church  deaconess, 
did  much  similar  canvassing,  as  did  also,  for  a  time.  Miss  Emma 
Blade.  Students  serving  in  the  summer  months  were  assigned  this 
work,  in  addition  to  their  other  duties.  In  1915  Rev.  E.  W.  Carlson 
was  called  by  the  Deacons  to  serve  as  a  local  missionary.  Such 
organizations  as  the  Tract  Society  and  the  Swedish  Bible  ("lass  were 
also  enlisted,  to  good  advantage,  in  the  field  work.  Mother's  meetings 
were  held  once  a  month,  partly  at  least,  in  the  same  interest.  These 
efforts  redound,  gloriously,  to  the  credit  of  Rev.  Jonson  and  the 
Immanuel  people,  but  they  indicate  also  how  difficult  the  work  was 
becoming. 

Although  so  much  was  being  done  for  the  local  mission,  foreign 
missions  were  not,  on  that  account,  neglected.  In  various  ways  in- 
terest was  stimulated,  and  funds  gathered,  for  this  holy  cause.  The 
good  results  arc  still  apparent.  Other  branches  of  the  work  were 
also  carried  on  with  vim. 

It  was,  therefore,  a  great  dissappointment  when  Rev.  Jonson,  on 
July  30,  1915,  tendered  his  resignation,  to  accept  a  call  from  the  Kbc- 
nezcr  Church  on  Foster  Avenue.  He  preached  the  farewell  sermon 
on   October  31st. 

Rev.  Jonson  is  still  the  pastor  of  the  Kbenezer  Church.  Recently 
this  church  put  through  a  successful  drive  for  funds,  and  will  soon 
be  ready  to  begin  the  construction  of  an  imposing  parish  house. 

Dr.   Peter   Peterson    Arrives. 

At  a  meeting  of  the   Board  of  Deacons,  held   on  October  14th,  Rev. 

E.  W.  Carlson  was  called  to  take  charge  during  the  vacancy.    At  the 


REV.  E.   K.  .lo\su\ 


The  Story  of  The  Immanuel  Lutheran  Church 


55 


same  meeting,  the  Board  decided  to  recommend  to  the  congregation, 
that  Dr.  Peter  Peterson  of  Stanton,  Iowa  be  called  as  the  permanenl 
pastor.  The  meeting  of  the  congregation  was  held  on  October  28th, 
and  Dr.  Peterson  was  called.  A  month  later  his  letter  of  acceptance 
was  received.  The  venerable  Rev.  A.  Edgren,  still  a  member  of  the 
Immanuel  Congregation,  was  called  to  assist  Rev.  Carlson,  during  the 
months  of  December  and  January. 

Dr.  Peterson  arrived  in  February,  l!)l(i.  and  preached  his  first 
sermon  the  last  Sunday  of  that  month.  He  was  installed  by  Dr.  M. 
C.  Ranseen  on  April  30th.  The  members  rallied  loyally  and  hopefully 
around  the  new  pastor.  And  well  they  might,  for  Dr.  Peterson  was 
tireless  in  his  work,  both  in  the  outward  upbuilding  of  the  congrega- 
tion and  in  his  personal  ministrations.  He  had  a  long  list  of  "shut- 
ins"  to  whom,  in  spite  of  manifold  other  duties,  both  within  and  with- 
out the  church,  he  gave  untiring  attention. 

Some    Unvarnished   Facts 

We  have  noted  in  our  discussion  of  the  Sunday  School,  thai  the 
population  of  the  district  around  the  church  was  changing  rapidly. 
By  the  time  Dr.  Peterson  took  charge  the  district  had  become  a  veri- 
table Latin  quarter.  The  name  "little  Italy"  was  applied  to  it,  and, 
because  of  the  peculiar  fondness  of  Italians  for  the  vendetta,  a  terri- 
tory, not  far  from  the  church  was  spoken  of  as  "death's  coiner"  and 
even  "little  hell."  The  Immanuel  people  were  not  molested,  the  sec- 
tion being  as  safe,  no  doubt,  for  those  of  northern  European  stock,  as 
any  other  in  the  city,  but  none-the-less,  they  continued,  with  growing 
frequency,  to  make  their  homes  in  more  inviting  parts. 

Dr.  Peterson  discusses  the  situation  in  the  reports  submitted  to 
the  annual  meetings  in  11)17  and  1918.  In  the  latter  he  points  out 
that,  whereas  members  in  former  days  often  left  the  old  church  to 
help  organize  new  congregations  in  outlying  territory,  in  the  interest 
of  missions,  now  the  old  church  needed  to  keep  all  her  members  to 
accomplish  the  important  work  Cod  had  entrusted  to  her. 

Such  pleadings  met  with  results.  We  find  many  striking  examples 
of  loyalty  among  the  members.  Many,  with  a  great  distance  to  come 
attended  the  services  and  other  meetings,  most  faithfully.  There  was 
deep-rooted    love    in    their   hearts    for    the    old    mother    church.      Such 


DR.  PETER  I'ETERSOX 


56 


The  Story  of  The  Immanuel  Lutheran  Church 


M'.I.S  J.  OLSON 
Honorarj   Deacon 


SIMON  OLSON 
Senior  Deacon 


sentiments   are   still   an   element   of  strength   in    the    Emmanuel   con- 
gregation. 

But  the  neighborhood  of  the  church  was  not,  thereby,  improved. 
The  pastors,  loo,  had  not  found  it  pleasant  to  live  in.  Dr.  Evald  for 
a  time  made  his  home  in  another  part  of  the  city.  The  same  is  true 
of  Rev.  Jonson. 

Patriotism 
The  days  that  followed  the  entrance  of  America  into  the  World 
War,  brought  peculiar  problems,  that  made  church  work  everywhere, 
more  difficult.  In  his  report  to  the  annual  meeting  on  January  1, 
1!)1!),  Dr.  Peterson  states,  that  about  eighty  of  the  congregation's 
young  men  had  been  in  the  service.  Two  gave  their  lives,  Henry 
Ackerberg,  who  died  at  (lam))  Jackson,  South  Carolina,  on  July  3, 
1018,  and  Carl  Theodore  Swanson,  who  was  killed  in  action  in  France. 


October  2<i,  1918.  II'  we  add  the  young  men  from  the  Bethel  Church, 
the  number  enlisted  exceeds,  considerably,  one   hundred. 

The  other  members  did  their  part,  to  "keep  the  home  fires  burn- 
ing." by  subscribing  for  "Liberty  Bonds."  "War  Saving  Stamps,"  and 
"Victory  Bonds,"  by  donating  to  the  Bed  Cross,  V.  M.  C.  A..  Y.  W.  C. 
A.,  etc.,  and  by  engaging  in  other  patriotic  ( fforts  requested  of  the 
citizens.  The  National  Lutheran  Commission,  ;  ml  the  Lutheran 
Brotherhood  were  generously  supported. 

There  was  much  rejoicing  when  the  boys  cam?  home  again.  A 
great  banquet  was  held  in  the  old  church  basement,  October  31,  1919. 

As  a  result  of  the  war  the  territory  near  the  church  began  to  be 
populated  by  Negroes  from  the  Southern  stales.  They  have  since 
come  in  large  numbers,  being  drawn  to  Chicago  by  the  industrial 
advantages  here  offered  them.  Recently,  the  Augustana  Inner  Mission 
opened  a  religious  school  for  (he  children.  The  school  which  is  held 
in  the  church  basement,  each  Saturday  morning,  has  an  average 
attendance   of   about    seventy-five. 

In  the  Matter  of  a  Parsonage 

When  Dr.  Peterson  came  there  was  no  parsonage,  but  at  a  meet- 
ing held  on  July  IS,  Dili,  the  congregation  decided  to  purchase  a 
residence  located  at  142<>  N.  La  Salle  Street.  This  was  a  line  building, 
admirably  suited  to  serve  as  a  pastor's  home.  The  Peterson  family 
moved  in  about  the  middle  of  October.  The  cost  of  the  building  was 
$10,500.  The  money  was  raised  at  a  "Subscription  Festival"  held  on 
October  12th. 

The  congregation  did  not  retain  possession  of  the  building  more 
than  four  years.  Already  at  the  annual  meeting  on  January  1.  1920, 
the  Trustees  were  empowered  to  sell  it,  "whenever  in  their  discretion 
this  might  seem  best."  The  action  was  taken  in  line  with  the  plans 
then  fast  developing,  to  remove  the  center  of  the  congregation's  ac- 
tivities to  the  new  North  field.  The  present  pastor  and  his  family 
moved  out  in  September  1920,  and  located  in  a  flat  rented  for  them 
by  the  congregation,  first  at  S824  Osgood  Street,  and  a  few  months 
later,  at  1442  Winona  Street.  On  May  24,  1922  they  moved  into  the 
present  parsonage,  located  at  laid  Elmdale  Avenue.  This  parsonage 
will  bear  comparison  with  any  owned  bv  the  churches  of  the  synod. 


The  Story  of  The  Immanuel  Lutheran  Church 


57 


The   Merger 

In  our  story  we  have,  time  and  again,  made  reference  to  the  mer- 
ger between  the  Bethel  and  the  Immanuel  Congregations.  Many 
elements,  which  worked  together  toward  this  event,  have  been  dis- 
covered. 

In  the  actual  merger,  the  first  official  step  was  taken  by  the 
Board  of  Administration  of  the  Bethel  Church.  As  usually  is  the 
case  in  such  dealings,  the  ground  had  first  been  gone  over  informally. 
The  Bethel  Board  of  Administration  sent  a  communication  to  the 
Immanuel  Board  of  Administration,  raising  the  question  of  the  advis- 
ability of  a  merger  of  their  respective  churches.  To  this  the  Im- 
manuel Board  replied  with  an  invitation  to  a  joint  meeting,  where  the 
question  might  further  he  gone  into.  The  joint  meeting  of  the  Boards 
was  held  on  October  1st.  The  happy  results  of  the  meeting  was  the 
adoption  of  resolutions  favoring  a  merger.  The  question  was  referred 
to  thi'  congregations,  and  each  held  a  meeting  in  its  respective  church 
on  the  evening  of  October  17.  1918.  The  recommendations  of  the 
joint  Board  meeting,  were  unanimously  adopted  by  both  congre- 
gations. 

According  to  the  agreements  of  the  merger,  the  Immanuel  con- 
gregation retained  its  name  and  corporation  unchanged,  the  Bethel 
members  simply  becoming  members  of  the  Immanuel  Church.  The 
Bethel  Congregation  transfered  the  title  to  its  property  to  the  Im- 
manuel Congregation,  the  latter  agreeing  to  care  for  the  Bethel  field 
and  to  erect,  there,  whatever  church  buildings  might   be  needed. 

The  first  annual  meeting  of  the  merged  congregation  was  held  on 
January  1,  1!)1!>.  The  pastor,  Dr.  Peter  Peterson,  presided.  The 
merger  had  now  been  brought  iido  official  effect.  Dr.  Peterson  had 
led  the  negotiations  with  a  sure  hand.  The  congregation  stood  at 
the  door  of  new  splendid  opportunities. 

As  the  Congregation  now  had  two  churches  and  two  fields,  it 
became  necessary  to  engage  an  assistant  to  the  pastor.  Rev.  Ernst  G. 
Svenson,  at  the  lime  pursuing  studies  at  the  Chicago  University,  was 
extended  a  temporary  call.     He  served  until  January  1,  1920. 

The  Board  of  Trustees  was  authorized  to  purchase  ground  on  the 
corner  of  Elmdale  and  Greenview  Avenues,  and  to  sell  the  Bethel 
Chapel,  as  soon  as  this  would  prove  advantageous.     The  amount   of 


AXEI.   L.   TIIOHSON 
Treasurer 


AI  YIN  C.  SANDBERG 
Financial    Secretary 


ground  stipulated  was  a  frontage  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  feet. 
but  a  proviso  was  added,  that  if  it  were  deemed  wise,  more  might  he 
purchased.  Eventually,  the  Board  secured  a  frontage  of  two  hundred 
and  ten  feet.    The  cost  of  purchase  was  *2!{.l)00. 

Action  to  finance  tins  purchase  could  not  be  taken  immediately, 
because  obligations  of  a  charitable  nature  intervened.  Thus  an  in- 
gathering of  funds  for  American  Belief  took  place,  and  Februarj 
16-26,  special  efforts  were  made  in  behalf  of  the  Lutheran  European 
Reconstruction  Work,  undertaken  by  the  National   Lutheran   Council. 

In  March  attention  was  tinned  to  the  local  problem.  As  the  obli- 
gation for  the  new  lots  was.  so  far,  only  $13,800  (the  cost  of  the 
original  one  hundred  and  twenty  feet)  it  was  decided  to  hold  a  num- 
ber of  "Subscription  Festivals"  to  raise  tlds  amount.  Before  long 
however,  it  was  realized  that  a  more  comprehensive  plan  must  be 
undertaken. 


58 


The  Story  of  The  Immanuel  Lutheran  Church 


The  SoO.OOO   Drive 

The  attention  of  the  Board  of  Administration  was  ;it  this  time 
called  to  Mr.  H.  H.  Patterson  of  Cleveland,  Ohio,  and  his  assistant  Mr. 
Fowler,  who  had  made  it  a  profession  to  assist  churches  ami  institu- 
tions in  raising  money.  Their  services  were  secured,  ami  they  began 
the  preliminary  work  on  June  7.  1919. 

The  members  of  the  congregation  were  organized  for  a  general 
campaign,  with  the  following  officers:  ('.apt.  John  C.  Carlson,  honor- 
ary chairman;  Dr.  P.  William  Thorelius,  general  chairman;  Edward  E. 
Erickson,  campaign  treasurer;  Mrs.  Herman  Thorsson,  chairman  of 
the  commissary  department;  Mrs.  A.  Alfred  Anderson,  buyer;  Mrs.  .1. 
A.  Carlson,  chairman  of  the  kitchen  force,  and  Mrs.  Simon  Johanson 
of  the  dining  room  force.  There  were  nineteen  teams  of  men  with 
Samuel  L.  Anderson  as  chairman,  and  fifteen  teams  of  women  with 
Mis.  John  E.  Ericsson  as  chairman. 

The  campaign  began  on  June  25th.  About  two  hundred  workers 
participated.  Each  evening  the  workers  met  for  a  six  o'clock  dinner, 
when  reports  wen-  made  and  instructions  received.  Then  all  took  to 
the  field  to  secure  pledges.  There  was  keen,  but  pleasant,  rivalry 
between  the  teams.  The  campaign  came  to  a  close  on  July  3rd.  The 
goal  that  had  been  set  was  $50,000.  The  final  report  showed  four 
hundred  and  seventy-eight  dollars  above  that  figure.  In  the  current 
parlance  "the  drive"  had  "gone  over  the  top."  This  excellent  result 
could  not  have  been  achieved,  had  not  the  interest  been  general. 
There  were,  of  course,  some  oppositionists,  but  they  wore  offset  b\ 
the  many  who  gave  evidence  of  almost  unbounded  enthusiasm.  It  is 
interesting  to  note,  that  Mrs.  Bothilda  Cederborg.  who.  as  a  young 
lady,  had  helped  to  gather  funds,  light  after  the  Chicago  fire,  and 
who  now  was  about  seventy  years  of  age,  was  out  every  evening. 
Another  worker  among  the  older  members  who  did  not  miss  an  even- 
ing was  Mrs.  Josephine  Kihlberg.  These  two  are  still  interested  and 
active  members  of  the  church. 

II  was  an  impressive  moment  when  the  final  results  wore  an- 
nounced, and  the  workers  rose  to  their  feet  and  sang:  "Praise  Cod 
from  Whom  all  blessings  flow."  The  expense  of  this  campaign  was 
$2,705.82. 


REV.  C.  O.  I'.I.M.ISON 


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THE   I'.OAKI)  ()l--  TRUSTEES 


The  Story  of  The  Immanuel  Lutheran  Church 


61 


C  Mil.    W.    I1HOMAN 
Organist   an  I   Choir  Director 


EDLA   W.  MAGNEY 
Parish  Secretary 


PETER    HANSON 
Sexton 


Another   Change   of   Pastors 

The  Illinois  Conference  convened  April  22,  I'll!),  at  the  Ebenezer 
Church.  An  amendment  to  the  constitution,  stipulating  that  the  pre- 
sident's term  of  office  be  five  years,  and  that  he  give  full  time  service. 
was  adopted.  When  the  election  of  a  president,  under  this  new 
ruling,  took  place,  Dr.  Peterson  was  chosen  on  the  third  ballot.  He 
felt  impelled  to  accept  and,  to  the  regret  of  the  members,  tendered 
his  resignation  to  the  Immanuel  Church.  His  services  as  the  pastor 
of  the  church  ended  on  July  27,  1!)1!(,  but  he  and  his  family  remained 
as  members  until  December  4,  1921.  They  then  joined  the  English 
Messiah  Church  in  Lake  View,  a  church  nearer  their  place  of  re- 
sidence. 

The  present  pastor  was  called  at  a  meeting  held  on  June  2;$rd, 
and  he  began  his  work  on  October  12,  l!)lit.     He  was  installed  by  Dr. 


Peter  Peterson  January  1<S,  1!)20.     His  previous  charge  was  the  Trinity 
Lutheran  Church  of  Duluth. 

Meeting  a  Challenge 

It  was  at  this  time  becoming  more  and  more  evident  that  speedy 
action  must  he  taken,  if  the  new  opportunities,  opened  up  by  the 
merger,  were  not  to  be  lost.  The  cost  of  maintaining  the  two  fields 
on  the  basis  first  contemplated,  was  taxing  the  church  treasury  be- 
yond its  capacity.  The  fields  were  also  divergent  in  language  and 
in  practical  aims,  and  neither  of  the  church  buildings  could  be  made 
a  center  for  the  activities  of  the  entire  congregation.  There  was  no 
small  danger  that  the  church  might  become  "a  house  divided  against 
itself."  Prophets  of  woe,  who  foretold  a  speedy  failure,  were  not 
lacking.     The  only  possible  line  of  action  to  save  the  situation  was  In 


62 


The  Story  of  The  Immanuel  Lutheran  Church 


WALTER    A.    G0RANS0N 


I)H.    I'.   WM.   TH0RELH  s 


ENOCH    A.    PEARSON 


Al.l'KI.I)    AMir.HMlS 


establish  a  new  center,  and  give  the  members  a  task  that  would  be 
common  to  them  all. 

In  line  with  this  the  annual  meeting  on  January  1,  1!)20  elected 
a  building  committee.  The  members  elected  were:  Andrew  Lanquist, 
John  E.  Ericsson,  Simon  Johanson,  Enoch  A.  Pearson,  Walter  A. 
Goranson,  and  Alfred  Anderson.  Mr.  Lanquist  found  it  impossible 
to  serve,  but  his  kindly  interest  in  the  work  of  the  committee,  and 
in  the  later  developments  that  have  come,  has  been  amply  proved. 
When  the  committee  organized  for  its  work,  Mr.  John  E.  Ericsson  was 
elected  chairman,  and  Mr.  Fnoeh  A.  Pearson  secretary.  Later  .Mr. 
Ericsson  withdrew  from  the  committee,  and  as  the  lowest  bidder,  was 
given  the  general  contract  lor  erecting  the  new  buildings.  Dr.  P. 
William  Thorelius  was  chosen  to  take  Mr.  Ericsson's  place  as  the 
committee's    chairman. 

The  annual    meeting  of   11120  also  called   Lev.   Herbert    W.   Linden. 


then  at  Fort  Dodge,  Iowa,  to  serve  as  the  regular  associate  pastor. 
He  entered  upon  his  duties  May  2nd.  Previous  to  his  arrival  the 
pastor  was  assisted  by  Mr.  Luther  Benson,  then  a  theological  student 
The  building  committee  reported  progress  at  meetings  of  the  congre- 
gation held  on  February  19,  March  4,  and  April  11.  At  these  meet- 
ings it  was  decided  that  the  general  plans  were  to  include  provision 
for  a  church  auditorium,  a  parish  house,  and  a  parsonage.  Mr.  Eric 
F.  Hall  was  selected  as  the  architect. 

On  Sunday  afternoon.  October  10.  the  congregation  held  a  service 
of  dedication  on  the  new  lots.  Dr.  Peter  Peterson  was  the  speaker 
and  conducted  the  dedication.  Mr.  Samuel  L.  Anderson,  then  the 
president  of  the  choir,  had  promised  a  chorus  of  one  hundred  voices 
for  the  occasion.  His  promise  was  nearly  redeemed.  The  choir  con- 
sisted of  exactly  ninety-nine  voices.  One  singer  failed  to  appear  he- 
cause  of  a  serious  accident  the  previous  evening.     This  meeting  was 


The  Story  of  The  Immanuel  Lutheran  Church 


63 


SIMON  JOHANSON 


EDW.  E.  ERICKS0N 


ERIC  E.  HALL 


.IOIIN  E.   ERICSSON 


encouraging.     II  brought  out  large  numbers,  and  helped,  materially, 
to  arouse  enthusiasm  tor  the  building  project. 

Building  operations  would  now  have  gone  forward  very  soon, 
had  not  a  general  "lock  out,"  in  the  building  industry,  prevented. 
The  labor  trouble  dragged  on  lor  several  months,  finally  issuing  in 
the   famous  "Landis'  Award"  agreements. 

The   Fourth   Church   Edifice 

At  length,  on  September  22,  1021,  at  an  exceptionally  well  at- 
tended meeting,  the  congregation,  by  a  unanimous  vote,  decided  to 
proceed,  immediately,  with  the  erection  of  a  parish  bouse  and 
parsonage.  Ground  was  broken  on  October  19th,  and  the  coiner- 
stone  was  laid  on  December  4th. 

When    the    corner    stone    was    laid    the    festivities    began    with    a 


service  at  the  Nicholas  Senn  High  School  auditorium.  The  program 
continued  at  some  length,  and  before  the  church  grounds  were 
reached  it  was  almost  dark.  Dr.  Peterson  read  the  service  by  the  light 
of  a  kerosene  lantern,  held  for  his  convenience  by  Mr.  John  Broman, 
one  of  the  deacons. 

The  first  service  in  the  new  parish  house  was  held  on  Ma\  7. 
1!)22.  As  the  chapel  was  not  completed,  the  service  was  held  in  the 
assembly  hall.  The  church  appointments  were  necessarily  improvised 
for  the  occasion,  but  the  significance  of  the  service,  marking  as  it 
did  the  turning  point  in  the  congregation's  progress  along  the  new- 
lines  adopted,  made  it  singularly  impressive. 

Both  the  pastors  were  present.  Rev.  Linden  preached  his  fare- 
well sermon.  His  resignation  had  been  accepted  with  reluctance, 
lie  had  given  able  and  unselfish  service  during  the  two  years  of  ins 


64 


The  Story  of  The  Immanuel  Lutheran  Church 


stny,  hut  he  felt  that,  with  the  congregation  established  on  the  new 
field,  the  specific  duties  for  which  he  \v;is  called  came  to  an  end. 
On  leaving  he  became  the  pastor  of  the  Albany  Park  Lutheran 
Church,  where  he  still  continues. 

The  previous  Sunday  evening,  April  30th,  a  farewell  service  was 
held  iu  the  Bethel  Chapel.  The  speakers  were  John  Strandberg,  C. 
Fred  Peterson,  and  Stuart  Goranson,  all  pioneers  of  the  Bethel  work. 
The  next  day  those  who  had  purchased  the  building  began  the  work 
of  wrecking  it.  A  large  apartment  building  now  occupies  the  site 
of  the  former  Bethel  Church. 

The  parish  bouse  was  dedicated  on  All  Saints'  Day,  November  .">, 
1!I22.  Services  were  held  morning,  afternoon,  and  evening.  In  spite 
ol  very  inclement  weather  the  chapel  was  filled  at  each  service.  Dr. 
I-'.  A.  Johnson,  vice  president  and  treasurer  of  the  Illinois  Conference, 
preached  the  morning  sermon.  Dr.  Peter  Peterson  gave  an  address 
in  the  afternoon,  and  conducted  the  ceremony  of  dedication.  At  this 
service  Rev.  G.  A.  Swanburg,  president  of  the  Northern  Chicago 
District,  also  spoke.  In  the  evening  Holy  Communion  was  celebrated. 
Rev.  II.  W.  Linden  preached  the  sermon.  The  church  choir  sang 
beautifully    at    all    three   services. 

The  Disposal  of  the  Old  Church 

While  building  operations  were  proceeding,  the  congregation  was 
faced  with  two  important  questions.  The  one  was  the  financing  of 
the  new  venture,  the  other  the  proper  care  of  the  old  field. 

In  the  latter  question  the  first  step  was  taken  at  the  meeting  of 
the  congregation  held  on  September  22,  1921.  The  pastor,  anticipating 
that  it  would  be  hard  to  work  the  old  field  properly,  when  the  new 
building  became  the  congregation's  center  of  activity,  unless  special 
arrangement  for  this  were  made,  suggested  that  the  congregation 
enter  into  some  agreement  with  the  Inner  .Mission  (then  an  indepen- 
dent society)  whereby  the  field  might  be  cared  for  to  mutual  ad- 
vantage. The  meeting  elected  a  committee  to  take  the  matter  under 
advisement.  The  following  members  were  elected:  Charles  Hanks, 
P.  Win.  Thorelius,  Leonard  Anderson,  David  I'.  Chindbloni,  and 
Walter  A.  Coranson. 

Before  the   committee   held   its   first    meeting  definite   information 


had  been  received  that  the  matter  was  arousing  interest  in  another 
quarter.  Acting  on  this  information,  the  committee,  alter  due  de- 
liberation, at  a  number  of  sessions,  drew  up  a  set  of  resolutions  re- 
commending that  the  old  field  and  church  be  transferred  to  the 
Executive  Committee  of  the  Illinois  Conference.  The  substance  ol 
the  committee's  resolutions  was  agreed  upon  in  consultation  with 
the  president  of  the  conference.  Dr.  Peterson  was  also  present  when 
the  congregation  discussed  and  adopted  the  resolutions.  Action, 
directing  the  Board  of  Trustees  to  dvvd  the  old  church  to  the  execu- 
tive Committee  of  the  Illinois  Conference,  was  taken  by  the  congre- 
gation on  January  1!).  11122,  the  only  stipulation  being,  that  the  con- 
ference "agree  to  assume  the  responsibility  for  the  maintenance  of  the 
work  in  that  field,  as  long  as  may  he  necessary."  On  the  motion  of 
Mr.  A.  Lanquist  the  following  amendment  was  also  adopted:  "That  it 
be  recommended  to  the  Board  of  Administration  of  the  congregation, 
and  the  Executive  Board  of  the  conference,  that  the  question  of  the 
permanent  maintenance  of  the  church  hi'  given  consideration."  By 
the  authority  of  the  meeting  the  Board  of  Administration  later  added 
the  further  stipulation,  "that  the  name  'Immanuel'  shall  not  be  used 
in  connection  with  any  congregation  to  be  organized  here." 

A  joint  meeting  of  the  Conference  Executive  Committee  and  the 
Immanuel  Board  of  Administration  was  held  on  April  24.  As  agree- 
ment could  not  he  reached  on  the  stipulation  regarding  the  name,  the 
question  was  referred  to  the  conference,  shortly  to  convene  in  the 
Trinity  Church  of  Galesburg.  On  May  I  the  conference  voted  to 
accept  the  proposition  of  the   Immanuel   Church. 

The  Central  Church 
Prof.  S.  (i.  Youngert  was  called,  jointly,  by  the  Conference  exe- 
cutive Committee  and  the  Immanuel  Board  of  Deacons,  to  take  tem- 
porary pastoral  charge  of  the  old  field.  On  July  1st  the  Board  of 
Trustees  transferred  the  church  property  <\rvi\  to  the  Conference 
Executive  Committee.  On  July  (i  a  new  congregation  was  organized, 
which  took  the  name,  the  Central  Lutheran  Church.  About  one 
hundred  and  fifty  Immanuel  communicants  became  members  of  the 
new  congregation.  This  was  in  line  with  the  spirit  of  the  agreement 
of  transfer.  The  most  cordial  relations  have  always  existed  between 
the  two  churches. 


The  Story  of  The  Immanuei  Lutheran  Church 


65 


On  September  <S,  1 1)22,  the  Emmanuel  Congregation  held  ;i  Cen- 
tennial Celebration  Service  in  memory  of  Dr.  Erland  Carlsson.  This 
service  was  held  in  the  old  church,  and  became,  as  well,  the  farewell 
service  on  the  part  of  the  lininanuel  Congregation.  The  speakers 
were:  Rev,  Philip  Thelander,  Dr.  Gustav  Andreen,  Dr.  Peter  Peterson, 
Dr.  M.  Wahlstrom,  Dr.  C.  E.  Hoffsten  and  the  pastor. 

Financing  the  New   Venture 

When  the  construction  of  the  new  building  began  about  $40,000 
were  in  hand.  This  sum  represented  the  amount  left  from  the  $50,000 
drive,  phis  what  had  been  realized  from  the  sale  of  the  parsonage  on 
La  Salle  Street,  and  the  Bethel  property.  As  the  estimated  cost  of  the 
new  buildings  was  approximately  $108,000  the  Board  of  Trustees  was 
empowered  to  negotiate  a  loan,  with  the  Capital  State  Savings  Bank, 
lo  the  amount  of  $70,000. 

To  meet  this  debt  the  congregation  dining  the  week  of  June  5-10, 
1  'J22.  put  on  another  financial  campaign.  This  time  one  of  the  mem- 
bers of  the  church,  and  as  well,  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Deacons. 
Mr.  David  I*.  Chindblom,  was  made  the  manager,  with  another  church 
member,  Mr.  Enoch  A.  Pearson,  as  assistant  manager.  The  organiza- 
tion followed  very  much  the  lines  and  the  personnel  of  the  previous 
drive,  viz.,  Capt.  John  0.  Carlson,  honorary  chairman;  Dr.  P.  Win. 
Thorelius,  general  chairman;  Samuel  P.  Anderson,  secretary  and 
chairman  of  the  men's  division;  Mrs.  John  E.  Ericsson,  chairman  of 
the  women's  division;  Edward  E.  Erickson,  treasurer;  Mrs.  Simon 
Johanson,  head  of  the  commissary  division. 

The  workers  were  impressively  commissioned  at  the  morning 
service  on  June  4th.  On  the  evening  of  thai  day  the  Church  Choir 
rendered  Handel's  "The  Messiah"  to  a  packed  house. 

The  body  of  workers  assembled  in  the  parish  house  on  Monday 
evening,  June  5th,  and  sat  down  to  dinner  at  6:30  o'clock.  A  brief 
program  followed,  which  was  opened  with  Scripture  Reading  and 
prayer,  and  consisted  of  brief  talks  by  Capt.  Carlson,  Dr.  Thorelius, 
and  the  pastor,  and  of  vocal  solos  by  Mrs.  E.  Robert  Larson  and  Mrs. 
Axel  H.  Johnson.  Thereupon  the  manager,  Mr.  Chindblom,  took 
charge,  lie  began  with  a  thoroughly  evangelical  exposition  of  John 
1(1:  17,  LS,  applying  the  lesson  lo  the  task  before  the  gathering.  When 
the  evening  was  concluded   one  hundred   and   thirty-six   pledges   had 


DAVID  I'.  CHINDBLOM 

been  made,  the  total  sum  being  $42,910.  By  Friday  evening  $22,003 
had  been  secured  in  pledges  on  the  field. 

A  rally  was  announced  for  Saturday  evening.  A  huge  number 
responded.  The  manager  went  lo  work  as  on  the  First  evening,  ami. 
near  midnight,  a  total  for  the  campaign  of  $75,000  had  been  pledged. 

The  entire  expense  of  I  he  campaign  was  only  $605.97.  Eight 
hundred  and  fifteen  meals  were  served  at  a  cost  of  $252.80,  the  bal- 
ance of  the  expense   being   for  printing,   postage,  etc. 

Again  the  congregation  sang  the  doxology  with  deep  emotion. 
The  blessings,  thai  had  come  down  from  Cod,  were  not  only  material. 
In  the  work  of  that  strenuous  week  the  union,  begun  bj  the  merger, 
had  been  consummated  in  spirit  and  in  truth.  'Ihc  manager  bad  held 
the  campaign  lo  high  motives,  and  many  hearts  were  filled  with  the 
joy  that  comes  of  giving  to  the  Lord  with  a  willing  mind.  Mr.  Chind- 
blom has  written  his  name,  indelibly,  in  the  hearts  of  the  Emmanuel 
members. 


66 


The  Story  of  The  Immanuel  Lutheran  Church 


Realizing  pledges  to  the  amount  of  $75,000  at  this  time,  especially 
since  the  previous  campaign  for  $50,000  had  been  so  recent,  was  really 
a  noteworthy  achievement.  The  two  campaigns,  however,  tell  only  a 
pari  of  the  financial  story  of  the  past  eight  years.  From  the  follow- 
ing interesting  figures,  compiled  by  Mr.  ('..  F.  Peterson,  we  may  gain 
at  least  an  approximately  correct  idea  of  what  has  been  done. 


Income  to  General 
Membership 
Year  Contributions 

I'll!) $5,947.00 

1920 7,809.00 

1021 8,075.00 

1!»22 9,337.00 

10215       8,313.00 

1!)24.                                ...11,820.00 
1025  11, 8(17.1)0 

1020 12,71!t.OO 


re  isui  \ 

Sundry 
$8,174.00 
8,120.00 
8,570.00 
6,173.00 
9,331.00 
8,478.00 
."..  17X00 
6,690.00 


Total 
$14,121,011 
15,929.00 
17,545.00 
15,5 10.00 
17,044.00 
20,208.011 
17,040.00 
19,409.00 


Total  ....$76,787.00  $60,709.00        $137,496.00 

"The  above  are  receipts  to  the  general  treasury  as  current  in- 
come. Receipts  to  the  building  fund  for  this  period,  as  we  figure  it, 
were  $132,500.00  making  a  total  income  in  round  numbers  of  $270,- 
ooo.oo,  or  a  yearly  average  of  $33,700.00. 

The  benevolences  for  the  last  three  years  average  nearly  40',  of 
the  current  income." 

The  value  of  the  church  property,  as  stated  in  the  report  of  tin 
Board  of  Trustees,  submitted  to  the  annual  meeting  January  20,  1027. 
is  as  follows: 

"The  ('.rounds,  210'-0"  x    12.V-00"  cost  $  23,000.00 
The  Parsonage  and  Parish  House  110,823.23 
Furnishings  at    the   lime   our   buildings   were  com- 
pleted  cost    9,697.62 

Organ    cost    4,000.00 


Total  $117,520.85 


These  are  actual  costs  at  the  time  we  built.  Because  of  greatly 
enhanced  property  values,  higher  building  material  costs  and  in- 
creased labor  costs,  it  would  take  $250,000.00  to  replace  what  we  now 
possess." 

At  the  beginning  of  1027  the  indebtedness  on  the  church  property 
was  $14,900,  and  there  was  an  additional  indebtedness  of  $5,000  for 
running  expenses.  To  remove  this,  free-will  offerings  have  been  given 
at  various  times  during  the  year,  hut  especially  throughout  the  autumn 
months.  When  the  jubilee  banquet  was  held  on  January  16,  1028.  it 
was  reported  that  every  cent  of  the  indebtedness  had  been  paid. 

A  Word  of  Appreciation 

The  figures  given  above  tell  plainly  the  story  of  devotion  and 
generosity,  during  the  past  eight  years,  on  the  part  of  many  loyal 
members.  They  tell  also  of  great  demands  for  initiative,  resource- 
fulness, and, down  right  work  on  the  part  of  those  responsible  for 
the  leadership.  The  financial  problems  in  general  have  fallen,  in  the 
first  place,  to  the  lot  of  the  Hoard  of  Trustees,  hut  through  the 
medium  of  the  Hoard  of  Administration,  every  event  of  large  concern, 
has  been  shared  as  well,  by  the  Hoard  of  Deacons. 

It  is  only  fair,  that  mention  be  made  of  the  individuals,  who  by 
virtue  of  their  official  positions,  have  been  called  on  to  bear  the 
greater  weight  of  the  responsibility.  At  the  time  of  the  merger,  and 
many  years  preceeding  that  event,  Dr.  P.  William  Thorelius  was  the 
president  of  the  Hoard  of  Trustees.  In  that  position  he  established 
himself,  to  an  enviable  degree,  in  the  confidence  of  the  church  mem- 
bership. Mr.  Walter  A.  Goranson  became  the  president  the  second 
year  after  the  merger,  and  lias  continued  since,  to  serve  in  that 
capacity.  He  has  been  untiring  in  his  efforts  on  behalf  of  the  church, 
and  although  he  has  been  ably  aided  by  the  other  members  of  the 
Hoard,  and  by  the  members  of  tiie  special  committees,  elected  from 
time  to  time,  no  small  pail  of  the  credit,  for  what  has  been  achieved, 
belongs,  personally,  to  him.  Mr.  Axel  L.  Thorson  has  been  the  church 
treasurer  for  many  years,  and  he  has  served  in  a  manner  that  can 
scarcely  be  surpassed.  In  a  like  able  manner  Mr.  Alvin  ('..  Sandberg 
has  filled  the  office  of  financial  secretary.  Mr.  Edward  11.  Erickson 
has   most   efficiently   held   the   difficult   position    of   treasurer   of   the 


The  Story  of  The  Immanuel  Lutheran  Church 


67 


Lot   and    Building   Funds.     He   is   possessed   of   a   genial   personality 
which  makes  him  just  the  man  for  such  an  office. 

In  1027  the  Board  of  Administration  consisted  of  the  following 
members: 

Deacons  Trustees 

C.  F.  Peterson,  v.  president  Walter  A.  Goranson,  president 

Thor  Nystrom,  secretary  P.  Martin  Granstrom,  v.  president 

N.  P.  Nelson,  treasurer  of  the  Oscar  F.  Johnson,  secretary 

Charity  Fund  Axel  L.  Thorson,  church  treas. 

Leonard  Anderson,  Com.  on  Music     Alvin  C.  Sandberg,  financial 
Samuel  L.  Anderson,  Com.  on  Music      secretary 

Stuart  Goranson,  Com.  on  Ushers       II.  J.  Erickson,  business  manager 
Emil  Johnson,  Com.  on  Ushers  of   the   "Immanuel    Review" 

Frank  Berg  Perry  B.  Brelin,  chairman  of  Hie 

Axel   H.  Johnson  House   Committee 

Mauritz   Kallerud  Albert   B.  Anderson 

Simon  Olson  Carl    Emilson 

Olof  L.  Thorson  Victor  L.  Erickson 

N.  J.  Olson,  honorary  member         Paul  C.  Mellander 

P.  Win.  Thorelius 

In  accordance  with  the  church  constitution,  the  pastor  has  been 
the  president  of  the  Board  of  Deacons  and,  also,  of  the  Board  of  Ad- 
ministration. Mr.  C.  F.  Peterson  has  been  the  vice  president,  also 
of  both  Boards.  Mr.  Albert  B.  Anderson  has  been  the  secretary  of 
the  Board  of  Administration. 

The  Present  Sanctuary 

Eventually,  the  Immanuel  Congregation  will  complete  the  present 
plant,  with  the  erection  of  a  church  edifice,  proper.  In  the  mean- 
t  me,  the  services  are  being  held  in  a  chapel  on  the  first  floor  of  the 
parish  house.     The  chapel   makes  an   attractive   place  of  worship,   but 


because  of  the  increase  in  attendance  at  the  morning  services,  the 
past  two  or  three  years,  it  is  now  crowded,  rather  more  than  is  com- 
fortable. When  the  new  sanctuary  has  been  built,  the  chapel  will  be- 
come the  Sunday  School  auditorium. 

The  chapel  is  equipped  with  a  fine  pipe  organ,  installed  and 
paid  for  by  the  Immanuel  Guild.  The  organ  was  dedicated  on  April 
15,  1923.  The  Guild  has  also  supplied  the  chapel  with  a  most  excel- 
lent grand  piano.  This  was  presented  at  the  morning  services,  on 
December  18,  1927. 

Conclusion 

We  have  come  to  the  end  of  the  story.  It  has  been  told,  perforce, 
in  a  fragmentary  fashion,  but  told  even  thus  it  has  much  to  teach  the 
thoughtful  reader.  The  outstanding  feature  of  pioneer  days,  we  have 
seen,  was  deep  spirituality.  We  have  noted,  too,  that  through  the 
subsequent  years,  many  things  of  lasting  value  were  wrought  in  faith 
and  love. 

In  the  li.nht  of  the  past,  it  is  quite  pertinent  to  impure  concerning 
the  warmth  and  vitality  of  the  spiritual  life  of  today.  May  the  people 
of  the  Immanuel  Congregation  never  forget,  that  in  upbuilding  a 
church,  outward  success,  divorced  from  inner  spirituality,  is  but  a 
snare  and  a  delusion,  that  the  only  worth  while  accomplishment,  is 
to  construct  a  house,  wherein  God  shall  be  pleased  to  dwell.  To  this 
end,  may  Cod  vouchsafe  a  continued  outpouring  of  the  Holy  Spirit  by 
the  Word  and  the  Sacraments,  and  may  the  Immanuel  Congregation, 
in  the  days  that  lie  ahead,  minister  in  things  spiritual  to  the  salva- 
tion of  many  precious  souls,  and  the  never  ceasing  glory  of  Cod. 

"Now  unto  Him  that  is  able  to  do  exceeding  abundantly  above 
all  that  we  ask  or  think,  according  to  the  power  that  worketh  in  us, 
unto  Him  be  the  glory  in  the  Church  and  in  Christ  Jesus  unto  all 
generations  for  ever  and  ever.     Amen."     (Eph.  3:  2(1,  21). 


68 


The  Story  of  The  Immanuel  Lutheran  Church 


THE   AUGUSTANA   CENTRAL   IHiMi: 


THE  IMM  \M  EL  WOMAN'S  IIOMIO 


The  Story  of  the  Bethel  Church 


C.  F.  PETERSON 


In  the  fall  of  the  year  11)07,  the  Illinois  Conference  of  the  August- 
ana  Synod,  took  up  English  mission  work  in  the  Edgewater  district. 
Three  resident  laymen  were  at  first  enlisted  for  this  work.  They 
were  Mr.  Oscar  Lundstrom,  Mr.  John  Strandberg  and  Mr.  Jonas  Er- 
landson. 

These  men  at  once  became  active  in  organizing  a  Sunday  School 
and  on  Sunday  afternoon.  November  3,  1907,  at  a  meeting  in  the 
Saint  Paul's  Evangelical  Church,  (German)  1527  Edgewater  Avenue, 
sponsored  by  the  North  Chicago  Mission  District,  a  Sunday  School 
of  about  twenty-five  members  was  organized.  The  name  of  "Bethel 
Evangelical  Lutheran  Church"  had  been  adopted  to  designate  this 
mission  post. 

The  School  was  conducted  at  this  place  by  these  three  laymen 
on  Sunday  afternoons,  until  the  following  February,  when  it  was 
temporarily  removed  to  Mr.  Lundstrom's  home  at  141!)  Granville  Ave., 
which   he  generously  offered   for  the   purpose. 

As  the  mustard  seed  took  root  and  grew,  the  Mission  Hoard  called 
and  secured  a  pastor,  Rev.  .1.  E.  Lorimer,  to  take  charge  of  the  work. 
Rev.  Lorimer.  with  his  family,  arrived  in  April,  HHKX.  Quarters  were 
then  rented  in  a  store  building  at  5710  Ridge  Avenue,  where  the  first 
service  was  held  on  Sunday  April  25,  1908. 

Rev.  and  Mrs.  Lorimer  labored  here  very  earnestly  lor  about  one 
and  one  half  years.  Sunday  School,  morning  and  evening  services 
were  held  each  Sunday.  A  Woman's  Aid  Society  and  a  Luther  League 
were  organized  by  Pastor  Lorimer. 

On  September  l(i,  1908,  a  meeting  was  held  at  the  meeting  place, 
Pastor  Lorimer  presiding,  for  the  purpose  of  organizing  a  congrega- 
tion. About  ten  people  were  present  and  a  tentative  organization  was 
effected.  The  following  officers  were  elected:  Secretary,  Mr.  A.  E. 
Anderson;  Deacons,  Mr.  Oscar  Lundstrom,  Mr.  John  Strandberg  and 
Mr.  Louis  Anderson;  Trustees,  Mr.  \V.  A.  Goranson,  Mr.  A.  E.  Ander- 
son, and   Mr.  Oscar   Lundstrom.     A  constitution   was  also  adopted. 


It  is  often  the  experience  in  pioneer  work  of  this  kind,  that  it 
falls  to  one  to  open  the  way  and  break  the  ground,  and  [or  others  to 
sow  and  till  the  planting  for  the  harvest.  It  so  followed  here.  The 
Mission  posts  were  many,  Mission  funds  were  meagre,  the  Mission 
treasury  being  heavily  in  debt,  and  students  were  employed  for  such 
places  wherever  possible.  Realizing  this,  Rev.  Lorimer  accepted  a 
tendered  call  to  another  charge  and   left   here  in  August,  1909. 

The  Mission  Board  then  secured  Mr.  Daniel  Nystrom,  a  student 
at    the   Chicago   Lutheran   Theological    Seminary,   who,    in    addition    to 


Till-;  BETHEL  C.IIAI'KI. 


70 


The  Story  of  The  Bethel  Church 


pursuing  his  studies,  also  filled  the  pulpit  in  the  Bethel  Mission.  Mr. 
Nystrom  took  charge  in  September,  1909. 

By  this  time  some  of  those  who  had  been  active  in  the  work  had 
moved  away,  others  had  withdrawn,  so  that  the  initial  organization 
had  become  disintegrated.  New  efforts,  however,  were  made  to  re- 
vive interest  in  the  Mission.  A  meeting  was  held  on  December  1, 
1909,  at  which  Rev.  G.  A.  Elliott,  President  of  the  .North  Chicago 
Mission  District,  presided.  Rev.  Gottfred  Nelson  also  being  present, 
when  a  new  organization  was  effected.  At  this  meeting  Mr.  I,.  A. 
Siljestrom  was  elected  Secretary.  A  resolution  was  passed  to  organize 
a  congregation  and  a  list  of  about  thirty-five  nanus  was  presented 
who  would  become  members.  The  Augustana  Synod  Church  Consti- 
tution was  adopted  and  three  deacons  and  three  trustees  were  elected. 
The  deacons  were  Mr.  C.  F.  Peterson,  Mr.  Oscar  Lundstrom  and  Mr. 
John  Strandberg;  the  trustees  were  Mr.  Andrew  Landgren,  Mr.  \V.  A. 
Goranson  and  Mr.  Hans  Nelson.  Rev.  (i.  A.  Elliott  was  elected  Vice 
Pastor.  The  name,  "Bethel  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church,"  was  re- 
tained. The  congregation  was  duly  chartered  and  received  into  llu 
Illinois  Conference  the  following  spring. 

Mi-.  Nystrom  continued  to  serve  the  congregation  and  on  his  or- 
dination was  called  as  permanent  pastor,  taking  charge  as  such  in 
.lime,   1911. 

In  the  spring  of  1911),  ground  fronting  sixty-seven  feet  on  the 
corner  of  Bosedale  and  (ilenwood  Avenues,  was  purchased  for 
$2,700.00.  In  1911  a  chapel.  '^(ixC.II  feet,  was  erected  on  these  lots  at 
a  cost,  with  furnishings,  of  about  $4,500.00.  Up  to  this  time  little 
progress  had  been  made  in  the  advancement  of  the  work.  With  Hie 
new  and  attractive  service  room  and  the  convenience  of  the  base- 
ment for  Sunday  School  and  social  hall,  the  work  became  more 
appealing,  and  with  a  pastor  on  the  field  new  members  were  added. 
confirmation  classes  organized,  and  the  work  progressed. 

In  February,  1913,  Pastor  Nystrom  resigned,  accepting  a  call  to 
Lindsborg,  Kansas,  leaving  Bethel  the  following  July.  Pastor  Ny- 
strom had  put  his  stamp  upon  the  work.  With  eloquence  had  hi" 
filled  the  pulpit  with  a  gospel  of  sin  and  grace  that  had  borne  fruit, 
and  his  sanctified  personality  had  won  the  hearts  of  his  people, 
who  fell  deeply  his  departure. 

The  Church  Council  secured  Mr.  Wilbur  Nelson,  a  student  at  the 


REV.  DANIEL  NYSTROM 


The  Story  of  The  Bethel  Church 


71 


Maywood  Lutheran  Seminary,  to  fill  the  pulpit  until  March,  1014, 
when  Rev.  Oscar  Purn,  who  had  accepted  a  tendered  call  by  the 
Church,  arrived  and  took  charge  of  the  work. 

Rev.  and  Mrs.  Purn  labored  here  very  energetically.  Mrs.  Purn 
serving  as  organist,  for  about  three  years,  during  which  time  the 
communicant  membership  was  increased  by  about  one  hundred.  The 
Church  now  numbered  about  175  communicant  members.  In  Febru- 
ary, 1!)17.  Pastor  Purn  resigned,  accepting  a  call  to  Monmouth,  ill., 
leaving  Bethel  in  May.  He,  too,  had  preached  the  Word  in  Bethel 
and  the  Law  and  Gospel  bad  been  rightly  divided,  with  resultant 
fruits. 

Again  the  pulpit  was  vacant.  The  Church  Council  was  fortunate, 
however,  in  a  call  to  the  well  known  missionary.  Dr.  John  Telleen, 
who  came  and  took  charge  of  the  Church  in  September,  1!)17.  With 
unction  and  in  the  queen's  English,  he  filled  the  pulpit  for  about 
one  year. 

The  members  of  the  Immanuel  Church  on  Sedgwick  and  Hobbie 
Streets  were  gradually  moving  from  her  parish.  Many  of  these 
had  become  residents  in  the  Bethel  Community.  During  a  period  of 
years  there  had  been  overtures  between  some  of  these  members  and 
members  of  Bethel  for  a  possible  union  of  the  two  churches.  As  the 
writer  recalls,  the  first  of  these  was  in  the  year  1!)12.  Later  in  1913 
this  took  on  somewhat  of  an  official  formality  between  the  two 
Church  Councils.  The  time  was  not  yet  ripe,  however,  so  nothing 
came  of  this. 

In  the  fall  of  1918,  under  the  leadership  of  Dr.  Peter  Peterson, 
pastor  of  the  Immanuel  Congregation,  and  Dr.  John  Telleen,  temporary 
pastor  of  Bethel,  a  union  of  the  two  Churches  was  consummated. 
The  Bethel  Church  membership  united  with  the  Immanuel  Church 
and  transferred  to  it,  its  property  valued  at  about  $12,000. 00,  on 
agreement  that  Immanuel  Church  remove  to  the  Kdgewater  district 
and  that  a  new  church  be  built  there.  A  considerable  part  of  this 
program  has  been  carried  out,  with  Cod's  rich  blessing  upon  it,  to 
the  mutual  welfare  of  both  Churches,  so  that  here  ends  the  history 
i  f  the  Bethel  Congregation  as  such. 

"Behold  how  good  and  how  pleasant  it  is  for  brethren  to  dwell  to- 
gether in   Unity."     (Ps.  V.Y3:  1.) 


REV.  OSCAR   ['CRN   AND  FAMILY 


THE  JUBILEE  HANOI  ET  A  I    EDGEWATER  BEACH  HOTEL,  JANUARY    16,  1928 


The  Story  of  the  Immanuel  Organizations 

EDITH  M.  BENGTSON 


The  Ladies'  Aid  Society 

The  oldest  organization  in  the  immanuel  Church  is  the  Ladies' 
Aid  Society.  Begun  in  1860,  it  has  been  in  constant  service  for  sixty- 
seven  years.  The  first  incentive  for  special  service  by  the  women, 
was  the  need  of  housewifely  supervision  at  Augustana  Seminary, 
then  located  in  the  schoolhouse  of  the  Immanuel  ('.lunch.  It  was  for 
the  purpose  of  making  cpiilts  for  the  Seminary  that  a  group  of  women 
handed  together  as  a  society,  in  the  year  just  mentioned.  On  Satur- 
days they  did  the  general  cleaning  at  the  Seminary.  Furthermore, 
each  one  in  a  motherly  way,  undertook  to  look  after  the  personal 
needs  of  one  of  the  students. 

After  the  removal  of  the  Seminary,  the  society  directed  its  efforts 
towards  aiding  the  local  church.  Under  the  name  of  the  "Mite 
Society,"  funds  were  gathered  for  part  of  the  interior  decorations  of 
the  first  Sedgwick  street  church.  The  society  also  gave  financial  aid 
to  the  congregation  in  other  ways. 

At  each  meeting,  aside  from  the  regular  dues,  contributions  to  he 
used  for  outside  missions,  were  received  in  a  savings  hank. 

Up  until  the  year  1896,  weekly  meetings  were  held.  The  time  was 
spent  in  religious  programs  and  in  sewing.  The  women  worked 
diligently  and  each  year  raised  large  sums,  principally  through  auc- 
tions, which  necessitated  a  great  amount  of  sewing.  As  long  ago  as 
1873,  the  proceeds  from  the  yearly  auction  were  $1,254.70. 

Since  1896  meetings  have  been  held  once  each  month. 

For  a  great  number  of  years  the  society  was  known  as  the 
"Senior  Sewing  Society."  During  the  past  twelve  years  or  more,  it 
has  had  the  name  "Ladies'  Aid  Society." 

Previous  to  the  merger  with  the  Bethel  Congregation  in  1918,  (he 
pastor  served  as  president.     During  Dr.  Evald's  pastorate,  Mrs.  Evald 


was  the  secretary.  She  was  succeeded  by  Mrs.  John  F.  Ericsson,  who 
held  this  office  for  a  period  of  sixteen  years.  In  order  to  relieve  the 
pastor  therefrom,  Mrs.  Ericsson  also  took  charge  of  much  of  the  de- 
tail work  of  the  organization.  The  following  have  also  served  ;is 
secretary,  in  the  order  named:  Mrs.  Ralph  (1.  Shirey,  Mrs.  Stuart  Gor- 
anson,  and  Mrs.  \V.  .1.  Lindstrom,  who  holds  the  office  at  the  present 
time. 

As  treasurer  the  following  have  served:  Mrs.  John  Blomgren,  Mrs. 
A.  G.  Gustafson,  Mrs.  X.  M.  Thorsson,  Mrs.  Chas.  Harner,  Mrs.  Edward 
F.  Frickson.  Each  of  the  three  first  mentioned  served  for  several 
years  and  the  two  last  named,  for  a  term  of  two  years  each.  The 
present  treasurer,  Mrs.  J.  W.  Ferm,  has  served  one  year. 

New  strength  was  added  to  the  society  through  the  merger. 
when  women  of  the  Bethel  Ladies'  Aid  became  a  pari  of  the  Immanuel 
Society.  At  this  time  Mrs.  Simon  Johanson  was  president  of  the 
Bethel  Aid,  and  continued  to  act  in  that  capacity  for  the  Immanuel 
Ladies'  Aid  until  January,  1923.  She  was  succeeded  by  Mrs.  John  E. 
Ericsson,  who  served  for  two  years.  Thereupon  Mrs.  Paul  F.  Mell- 
ander  served  as  president  for  one  year  and  was  succeeded  by  Mrs.  J. 
L.  Forch,  Jr.,  who  has  held  the  office  since  January.  1926. 

Others  who  have  served  as  officers  during  the  past  five  years  are 
the  following:  as  vice  president:  Mrs.  C.  O.  Bengtson,  Mrs.  .1.  L.  Forch. 
Jr.,  Mrs.  C.  F.  Peterson,  Mrs.  E.  \V.  Lindeen;  as  financial  secretary: 
Mrs.  Enoch  Pearson,  Mrs.  Herman  Thorsson,  Mrs.  A.  Hakanson:  as 
organist:  Mrs.  Paul  Mellander,  Mrs.  George  Carlson.  Mrs.  Oscar  John- 
son, Mrs.  J.  F.  Rehnstrom,  Mrs.  Perry  Brelin. 

In  January,  1923,  a  constitution  was  adopted  by  the  society,  pro- 
viding, among  other  things,  that  no  one  should  hold  the  same  office 
for  more  than  two  consecutive  years. 

The  society  continues  to  work  mainly   for  tin-   local   church. 


74 


The  Story  of  The  Immanuel  Organizations 


THE  LADIES'  AID 


The  dues  are  $3. 00  annually.  Additional  funds  arc  raised  by 
dinners,  banquets,  concerts,  sales  and  free-will  donations. 

Up  until  the  time  of  the  fiftieth  jubilee  celebration  of  the  Church, 
the  sum  raised  by  the  society  totaled  $22,958.82.  During  the  last  six 
years  the  income  has  been  more  than  $16,000.00,  the  amount  raised 
during  each  of  these  years  exceeding  $2,000.00. 

The  total  receipts  for  1!>27  were  $2,455.40.  Of  this  amount  $986.00 
was  realized  through  tree-will  pledges.  From  the  net  income  the 
sum  of  $2,100.00  was  given  to  help  eradicate  the  present  church  debt. 
Smaller  amounts  have  been  given  during  this  year  as  well  as  in  the 
past,  to  other  causes,  including  missions. 

It  has  been  an  annual  custom  for  some  years  past,  to  send  Christ- 
mas gifts  to  the  children  al  the  Augustana  Lutheran  Orphanage  at 
Andover,  Illinois. 

The  present  membership  of  the  society  is  150. 

Meetings  are  held  on  the  third  Thursday  afternoon  of  each  month. 


The    Immanuel    Guild 

In  the  fall  of  1877.  Mrs.  Annie  Evald  organized  a  group  of  young 
girls  under  the  name  of  the  "Junior  Sewing  Society."  In  1919  the 
name  was  changed  to  "The  Young  Ladies'  Circle"  and  in  1927  the 
present    name   "The    Immanuel    Guild"   was   adopted. 

This  is  the  second  oldest  organization  in  the  Immanuel  Church. 
It  has  functioned  regularly  for  more  than  fifty  years. 

During  the  early  years  of  its  existence,  this  societj  manifested 
very  much  of  a  missionary  spirit.  The  first  year  it  worked  solely  for 
the  orphanage  at  Andover.  Illinois,* "buying  and  sewing  clothing  for 
the  children   there. 

On  October  31st,  1870.  the  members  of  the  societj  went  on  an 
excursion  to  Hock  Island  and  while  there  presented  In  Augustana 
College  a  large  silk  Crusader's  flag. 

This  society  was  also  among  the  first  to  give  support  to  Augustana 
Hospital,   making   a   donation    on    October   .Hist.    1880.   of   $70.00    to    the 


^nr\  ri(\<*m**  ftft 


THE  IMM  \Nl  EL  «.l  II. I) 


76 


The  Story  of  The  Immanuel  Organizations 


first  subscription  raised  for  the  Hospital.     Thus  it  was  one  of  the 

founders  of  that   institution. 

The  following  year  the  society  again  showed  a  spirit  of  co- 
operation towards  the  institutional  work  of  the  Augustan  a  Synod,  by 
donating  $300.00  for  a  "Memorial  Window"  in  the  Chapel  at  Augustana 
College. 

During  the  past  lew  years,  the  society  has  given  the  greater  part 
of  its  funds  towards  the  support  of  the  local  church,  although  making 
some  annual  donations  to  institutions  and  missions.  Foremost  among 
tlii'  financial  responsibilities  assumed  by  this  society  since  1922,  may 
he  mentioned  the  purchasing  and  installing  of  the  organ  in  our  pre- 
sent place  of  worship,  at  a  cost  of  $4,000.00. 

On  Sunday,  December  18th,  11)27,  the  society,  through  its  presi- 
dent, presented  to  the  congregation,  a  Mason  and  Hamlin  concert 
grand  piano. 

Funds  have  been  gathered  through  dues,  which  are  83.011  annu- 
ally, and  also  by  social  gatherings,  entertainments,  savings  hanks, 
concerts,  sales  and  donations. 

Two  of  the  charter  members  of  the  organization  are  still  enrolled, 
Miss  Minnie  Peterson  and  Miss  Emma  Adams. 

Meetings  are  held  the  third  Tuesday  evening  of  each  month. 

The  society  at  this  time  has  eighty-five  memhers. 

The  following  have  served  as  officers  for  the  past  two  years: 
Miss  Lillian  Ericsson,  president;  Miss  Esther  Nelson,  vice  president, 
Miss  Marion  Erickson,  secretary;  Miss  Vivian  Ericsson,  treasurer; 
Mis.  Mamie  Elliot,  pianist. 

The  officers  elected  to  serve  for  1!)28  are:  Miss  Edith  Swanson, 
president;  Miss  Helen  Erickson,  vice  president;  Miss  Esther  Olson, 
secretary;   Miss  Virginia   Edgren,  treasurer;   Miss  Alice  Olson,  pianist. 


J1ZL  ~; 


Woman's  Mission  Society 

The  Immanuel  Woman's  Mission  Society  has  the  distinction  of 
being  the  oldest  one  in   the   Mission   Society  of  the   Augustana  Synod. 

It  was  organized  in  August,  1X88,  by  Mrs.  Emmy  Evald.  Two  of 
its  charter  members  are  still  active  in  the  society,  namely,  Mrs.  Evald 
and   Miss  llanna   Lekberg. 


This  organization  has  been  affiliated  with  the  Synodical  and 
Conference  Mission  Societies,  since  their  organization.  In  addition 
to  meeting  its  obligations  to  these,  it  has  also  made  donations  of 
larger  and  smaller  sums,  to  foreign,  home  and  inner  missions. 

At  the  time  of  the  drive  by  the  Augustana  Mission  Society  to 
raise  funds  for  the  erection  of  a  Girl's  Dormitory  at  Augustana 
College,  in  1921,  the  Immanuel  Mission  Society  raised  the  sum  of 
$2,366.00  for  this  cause. 

Towards  the  building  cost  of  the  present  Immanuel  church  struc- 
ture, the  society,  in  1922,  pledged  the  sum  of  $500.00,  which  the  mem- 
bers paid  by  free-will  donations. 

In  102"),  the  sum  of  $519.50  was  pledged  for  furnishing  the  living 
room  at  the  Augustana  Mission  Home,  located  at  303!)  Fine  drove 
Avenue,  Chicago.  This  sum  was  also  paid  by  free-will  donations  from 
the  members. 

In  1021  a  legacy  of  $200.00  was  received  from  the  estate  of  Nora 
Nelson,  a  departed  member. 

The  membership  dues  are  25  cents  a  month.  Other  sums  have 
been  realized  through  social  affairs  and  mission  entertainments. 
During  the  past  few  years,  however,  the  greater  part  of  its  funds  has 
been  derived  through  free-will  offerings. 

The  society  co-operates  with  the  Augustana  Inner  Mission,  especi- 
ally at  the  midsummer  festival  at  the  (look  County  Almshouse  and  in 
giving  financial  help  to  needy  families  at  Christmas  time. 

Since  January  102"),  it  has  carried  on  the  work  formerly  done  b\ 
the  Nursery  Society,  taking  offerings  and  giving  a  special  social  affair 
during  the  year  for  the  Augustana  Nursery.  Workers  for  the  Nurserj 
tag  day  are  also  supplied. 

Much  visitation  work  has  been  done  both  for  the  church  and  for 
the  society,  through  committees  elected   for  that   purpose. 

Mrs.  Emmy  Evald  was  president  of  the  society  from  the  time  of 
its  organization  until  1010.  After  that  date  the  pastor  served  as  pre- 
sident until  the  year  1024,  when  Mrs.  Louise  Lindgren  was  chosen 
chairman  and  served  one  year.  Mrs.  C.  O.  Bengtson  was  her  successor 
and  has  served  since  January,  102").  Mrs.  Melinda  Banks  acted  as 
secretary  from  the  year  1010.  until  her  last  illness  in  .Inly  102."). 
During  the  time  Mrs.  Banks  held  this  office,  she  took  the  leading 
part   in  all   the  activities  of  the  organization. 


The  Story  of  The  Immanuel  Organizations 


77 


THE  WOMAN'S  MISSION   SOCIETY 


In  1918,  the  year  of  the  merger,  the  society  had  about  sixty  mem- 
bers. In  like  manner  with  the  Ladies'  Aid  Society,  this  organization 
received  several  members  as  a  result  of  the  merger.  However,  this 
was  counterbalanced  by  the  loss  sustained  when  several  of  its  mem- 
bers left  the  organization  to  form  a  Mission  Society  in  the  Central 
Church. 

The  Society  now  lias  an  active  membership  of  100. 

As  a  rule,  meetings  are  held  the  first  Thursday  afternoon  of 
each  month. 

Once  or  more  during  the  year,  for  (he  past  few  years,  the  Society 
has  sponsored  the  Sunday  evening  service. 


The  present  officers  are:  .Mrs.  C.  0.  Bengtson,  president;  Mrs. 
C.  F.  Peterson,  vice  president;  Mrs.  Hanna  Forsberg,  secretary;  Miss 
Marie  Swenson,  treasurer;  Mrs.  ('has.  Harner,  treasurer  of  Nursery 
Fund;  Mrs.  Oscar  Johnson,  pianist;  Mrs.  N.  P.  Nelson,  chairman  of 
visiting  committee. 

A  subsidiary  organization  to  this  society  is  the  "Morning  Star," 
which  holds  only  one  meeting  during  the  year.  This  usually  takes 
place  in  the  Immanuel  Woman's  Home,  when  the  dues,  ranging  from 
$3.00  and  upward,  are  received.  The  total  income  is  given  to  China 
Missions.  The  amount  thus  received  last  year  was  $171.50.  The 
officers  of  this  society  are:  Sister  Frida  Half,  president;  Miss  Tillie 
Munson,  treasurer. 


THE  HOME  CIRI  1  I 


The  Story  of  The  Immanuel  Organizations 


79 


The  Mission   Hand 

The  .Mission  Band  was  organized  at  about  the  same  time  :is  the 
Woman's  Mission  Society,  on  August  18th,  1NN<S.  It  is  perhaps  the 
oldest  Mission  Band  in  the  Augustana  Synod. 

Mrs.  Emmy  Evald  was  its  first  president.  Mrs.  Mary  Mellander, 
who  was  its  first  vice-president,  succeeded   Mrs.   Evald   as   president. 

Since  the  Saturday  Bible  School  was  begun  in  the  church,  the 
Mission  Band  and  the  School  have  been  closely  identified,  having 
about  the  same  members  and  being  under  the  leadership  of  Miss  Edla 
Magney,  the  parish  secretary. 

The  Mission  Hand  is  a  member  of  tin1  Illinois  Conference  Junior 
Mission   Society   and  contributes  towards   its   work. 

Meetings  are  held  on  the  fourth  Saturday  of  the  month,  al  10:30 
a.  m..  except  during  the  summer. 

The  present  membership  is  thirty-four  and  the  officers  are:  Elea- 
nor Nelson,  president;  Marion  Thorson,  secretary;  Marion  Rehnstrom, 
treasurer. 

The  Home  Circle 

'the  Home  Circle  was  organized  at  the  home  of  Dr.  and  Mrs.  (',. 
A.  Evald,  on  July  12th,  1902.  The  first  officers  were  Mrs.  Emmy 
Evald,  president;  Herman  Thorsson,  vice-president;  Mrs.  Emil  Swen- 
son,  secretary;  John  Ericsson,  treasurer. 

'fhe  chief  aim  of  this  society  has  been  to  create  a  more  intimate 
acquaintance  between  the  younger  married  folks  of  the  church. 

In  the  February,  1918,  issue  of  our  church  paper,  we  read:  "Like 
Rip  Van  Vinkle,  the  Home  Circle  of  our  church  has  awakened  after 
a  long,  sound  sleep.  On  Jan.  19th,  it  rubbed  its  eves  and  was  amazed 
to  find  itself  in  the  home  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Samuel  L.  Anderson."  At 
that  time  Herman  M.  Thorsson  was  elected  president  and  served  in 
that  capacity  until  the  time  of  his  death.  He  had  also  previously  been 
its  president  for  several  years. 

Since  its  revival,  the  society  has  continued  to  meet  on  the  third 
Saturday  evening  of  each   month   in   the   homes  of  members. 

The  present  officers  arc  Edward  E.  Erickson,  president;  Bert 
Larson,  vice-president;  Mrs.  Enoch  Pearson,  secretary;  E.  Robt.  Lar- 
son, treasurer. 


The  Tract  Society 

There  is  no  record  as  to  the  exact  time  of  the  organization  of  the 
Tract  Society.  Early  in  the  history  of  the  church  there  was  an 
organization  known  as  "The  Society  for  Inner  Missions."  On  account 
of  the  dishonesty  of  two  of  its  hired  workers  or  lay  preachers,  this 
society  was  disrupted.  It  was,  therefore,  deemed  advisable  to  re- 
organize and  carry  on  the  work  under  different  plans  and  a  different 
name.  This  was  done  and  the  new  organization  was  called  "The 
Trad  Society."  The  members  carried  on  the  work  without  the 
assistance  of  paid  workers.  One  very  important  feature  of  Hie 
activities  of  the  society  was  the  distribution  annually  of  thousands 
of  religious  tracts,  written  in  many  languages. 

This  society  was  also  instrumental  in  organizing  many  of  the 
Augustana  churches  which  later  came  into  existence.  Among  them 
may  be  mentioned  especially  the  Trinity,  Zion  and  Saion  churches. 
The  members  of  the  society  carried  on  the  work  in  these  congrega- 
tions until  such  time  as  the  congregations  felt  able  to  call  a  pastor. 

In  other  ways  too.  the  Tract  Society  was  a  great  spiritual  force 
in  the  church.  Unselfishly  and  diligently  it  labored  for  the  upbuild- 
ing of  the  Lord's  Kingdom. 

There  came  the  time,  however,  when  members  of  the  society  re- 
moved to  other  churches,  which  made  it  difficult  to  carry  on  the 
work  efficiently.  But  the  need  for  such  service  existed  Increasingly, 
and,  gradually,  it  became  evident  to  the  people  of  the  Augustana 
churches  in  our  city  that  there  should  he  a  general  agency  to  cany 
on  this  kind  of  work.  As  a  consequence,  the  Augustana  Inner  Mission 
was  organized  by  certain  individuals  and  during  the  past  few  years 
it  has  effectively  carried  on  the  work  formerly  done  by  the  Tract 
Society.  However,  on  account  of  some  property  holdings  the  Society 
is  still  in  lej^al  existence  and  meets  at  the  call  of  the  president. 

The  officers  are  Lev.  C.  O.  Bengtson,  president;  C.  F.  Peterson, 
secretary;  X.  1'.  Nelson,  treasurer.  There  are  three  trustees.  Dr.  P. 
Win.  Thorelius,  Chas.  Hanks,  and  X.  P.  Nelson. 

The  Luther  League 
During  the  years  when   the  large  adult   Bible  classes   flourished, 
the  young  people  were  so  active   in   them   that    the   necessity   for  a 
Luther  League  was  not  felt.     Consequently  a  League  was  not  organ- 


80 


The  Story  of  Tin    I  \i  u  nnukt.  Organizations 


THE  I. II  lll.li   I.I.Ai.l  I 


ized  until  September  15th,  1914.  The  first  officers  were:  Perry  B. 
Brelin,  president;  Paul  Thorelius,  vice-president;  Ellen  Hanson  (now 
Mrs.  Elmer  I..  Carlson),  recording  secretary;  Huth  Nelson  (now  Mrs. 
Edward  P.  Johnson),  corresponding  secretary;  Elmer  I..  Carlson, 
treasurer. 

Since  the  time  the  League  was  organized,  the  church  has  gone 
through  main  changes,  which  may  reasonably  account  for  the  fact 
thai  this  societj  lias  not  enjoyed  a  steads  growth.  When  the  merger 
look    place    a    numher    of    members    were    received    from    the    Bethel 


Church.  The  Bethel  League  at  one  time  had  a  large  membership,  and 
made  itself  felt,  not  only  in  the  local  church,  hut  in  the  League  move- 
ment of  the  city.  However,  adverse  circumstances  had  depleted  its 
ranks,  considerably,  when  it  joined  the  Immanuel   League. 

The  aim  of  the  League  is  to  foster  a  true  church  spiril  and  pro- 
mote Christian  fellowship  among  the  young  people,  rather  than  to 
lend  any  substantial   financial  support  to  the  local  church. 

The  League  is  affiliated  with,  and  contributes  to  the  support  of 
the  Conference  Luther  League.     In  June,   1922,  it   pledged  $200.00  to- 


The  Story  of  The  Immanuel  Organizations 


THE  MENS  CLUB 


wards  the  building  fund  of  the  church,  which  sum  has  been  paid,  and 
during  the  past  year  $40.00  additional  was  contributed  to  the  same 
cause. 

Meetings  are  held  the  second  and  fourth  Tuesday  evenings  of 
each  month.     The  programs  are  given  by  local  and  outside  talent. 

For  the  past  few  years  the  League  has  given  a  conceit  and  wake 
service  on  New  Year's  Eve. 

Occasionally,  visits  are  made  by  the  Society  to  the  (look  County 
Almshouse  and  at  Christmas  the  League  participates  in  the  special 
charitable  work  done  at   that  time  by  the  chinch. 

The  dues  are  111  cents  a  meeting  or  $2.00  a  year. 

The  present  officers  are:  Harold  Nelson,  president;  Miss   Evelyn 


Hakanson,    vice-president;    Miss    Fern    Ilarner,    recording    secretary; 
Miss  Inna   Erickson  and  Miss   Marion  Thorson,  corresponding   secre- 
taries; Edward  Swanson,  treasurer;  Miss  Ella  Williamson,  pianist. 
The  present  enrollment   is  fifty-five. 

The  Men's  Club 
For  many  years  past,  there  have  been  various  organizations  in  the 
church  in  which  the  men  have  taken  an  active  part.  The  first  among 
these  was  the  Tract  Society.  Later,  in  1881).  came  the  Men's  Mission 
Society,  a  subsidiary  organization  to  the  Tract  Society.  In  11*11  an- 
other mission  society  was  organized  under  Rev.  Jonson's  direction  to 
do   home   mission   work   on   the   local   field.     There   were   also   Bible 


82 


The  Story  of  The  Immanuel  Organizations 


chisscs  mid   Literary  Societies   in  which   large  groups  of  nun   were 
enrolled. 

The  need  for  ;i  separate  men's  organization  was  very  much  em- 
phasized in  the  days  of  the  World  War.  In  February,  1!)1<S,  the 
National  Lutheran  Commission  made  an  appeal  for  $750,000.00,  to  be 
used  for  religious  work  in  the  national  camps  and  naval  stations.  In 
order  successfully  to  meet  this  appeal,  the  organization  of  Lutheran 
men's  societies  became  very  general  throughout  the  country.  At  this 
time  brotherhoods  came  into  existence  in  both  the  Bethel  and  die 
limnanuel  churches.  As  an  aftermath  of  this  movement  the  Augustana 
Lutheran  Brotherhood,  with  which  the  present  men's  organization  in 
Hie   Immanuel  church   is  affiliated,  came   into  existence. 

Activity  in  the  organization  slacked  up  somewhat  for  a  period 
after  the  war,  due,  no  doubt,  partly  to  the  lac!  that  the  original  need 
had  been  removed  and  also  because  of  the  many  other  pressing  duties 
and  problems  confronting  all  the  members  during  the  merger  and 
building  program.  As  soon  as  possible,  however,  interest  was  re- 
vived, under  the  leadership  of  David  P.  Chindblom,  and  a  brother 
hood,  since  known  as  the  Men's  Club,  is  now  a  strong  factor  in  the 
church. 

Meetings  are  held  on  the  second  Wednesday  evening  of  each 
month,  at  which  speakers  of  national  and  international  repute  have 
been  heard.  The  organization  also  occasionally  sponsors  the  Sunday 
evening  service.  For  the  past  three  years  it  has  arranged  an  outing 
which  has  been  held  during  the  month  of  June,  in  the  Forest  Pre- 
serves north  of  Chicago.  These  outings  have  been  largely  attended 
and  have  taken  the  place  of  the  Sunday  School  picnics  formerly  held. 

The  aim  of  the  organization  is  primarily  to  create  a  deeper  in- 
terest in  the  church  among  the  men  rather  than  to  achieve  large  re- 
sults financially. 

The  dues  are  $3.00  annually.  Additional  funds  have  been  raised 
in  order  to  pay  the  obligations  of  the  society  to  the  Conference  and 
Synodical  Brotherhoods.  The  sum  of  $100.00  was  given  to  the  local 
church  during  the   past  year. 

'the  Club  now   has  a  membership  of  100. 

The  present  officers  are:  Stuart  (ioranson,  president;  Archie 
Wessman,  vice-president;  Charles  Carlson,  secretary;  Bay  Granstrom, 
treasurer. 


■    (J 

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iff   ■ 

•IT- 

If  1 

1 

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—  •  1 

Till;   GLEANERS 


The  Gleaners 

On  November  l.S.  1925,  a  group  of  young  girls,  under  the  direc- 
tion of  Miss  Edla  Magney,  the  parish  secretary,  organized  the 
Gleaner's  Society.  The  principal  aim  of  this  society  is  to  work  for 
missions. 

On  October  1!),  li)27.  the  society  voted  to  become  affiliated  with 
the   Young  Women's  Mission  Society  of  the   Augustana   Synod. 

Meetings  are  held  on  the  third  Wednesday  evening  of  each  month. 

The  sum  of  $65.00,  realized  from  a  concert  given  bj  the  members 
of  tlu1  organization,  was  donated  to.  the  building  and  debt  fund  of  the 
church,  in  November,  1027. 

This  society  also  takes  part  in  the  Christinas  charity  work 
carried  on  by  the  chinch. 

The  dues  aic  twenty  cents  a  month. 

The  present  enrollment  is  twenty,  and  the  officers  are:  Irma 
Erickson,  president;  Eleanor  Nelson,  vice-president;  Mildred  Cameron. 
secretary;  Ellen  Williamson,  treasurer. 


The  Story  of  The  Immanuel  Organizations 


83 


Immanuel  Woman's  Home 

The  Immanuel  Woman's  Home  Association,  though  never  legally 
a  part  of  the  church,  was  organized  by  members  of  the  church  in 
January,  li)l)7.    Dr.  C.  A.  Evald  was  its  first  president. 

In  July  1!)()7,  it  was  incorporated  and  its  first  house,  located  at 
1505  North  La  Salle  Street,  was  purchased  for  the  sum  of  $7,500.00. 

The  purpose  of  the  Association  was  to  establish  a  hospice  for 
young  women. 

The  undertaking  has  prospered,  until  the  Home  is  now  able  to 
care  for  140  women  and  has  property  of  great  value.  Plans  are  also 
being  made  for  additional  new  buildings  to  be  erected  at  some  future 
time. 

During  the  twenty  years  of  its  existence  the  home  has  been  under 
the  general  supervision  of  Sister  Frida  Half. 

The  officers  of  the  Association  are:  Mrs.  Emmy  Evald,  president; 
Mrs.  Peter  Peterson,  vice  president;  Miss  Inga  Swenson,  secretary; 
Mrs.  John  E.  Ericsson,  treasurer.  Other  members  of  the  Hoard  are: 
Mrs.  J.  ().  Broman,  Mrs.  .1.  L.  Forch,  Jr.,  Miss  Lottie  Frejd,  Mrs.  F.  (). 
Jacobson,  Mrs.  John  A.  Helsing,  Mrs.  X.  P.  Nelson,  Miss  Justin  Peter- 
son, Mrs.  (].  0.  Bengtson,  Sister  Frida  Half. 

The   Bethesda  and    Bethania   Sick    Benefit   Societies 

The  Bethesda  Sick  Benefit  Society  for  men,  was  organized  on 
April  8,  1878,  for  the  purpose  of  giving  financial  aid  to  members  at 
times  of  sickness  and  death.     Its  first  president   was  Dr.  ('..  A.   Evald. 

For  several  years  the  Society  enjoyed  a  prosperous  existence.  In 
1903  it  had  a  membership  of  239. 

At  present  the  membership  is  negligible. 

Thi'  present  officers  are:  (i.  \Y.  Malmquist,  president;  Robert 
Gustafson,  secretary;  August  Anderson,  treasurer;  E.  Robert  Larson, 
financial  secretary. 

The  Bethania  Sick  Benefit  Society  for  women  was  organized  in 
1905.    Its  first  president  was  Mrs.  Emmy  Evald. 

Though  the  society  has  had  no  growth  for  some  years,  it  still 
has  a  membership  of  120. 


The  dues  are  $3.00  annually,  with  an  extra  assessment  of  $1.00 
upon  the  death  of  a  member. 

Sick  benefit  is  paid  at  the  rate  of  $4.00  weekly,  not  to  exceed 
$32.00  to  any  one  member  in  the  same  year.  The  amount  paid  at 
death   is  $100.00. 

The  following  are  the  officers:  Miss  Inga  Swenson,  president; 
Mrs.  (".has.  Hanson,  vice  president;  Mrs.  Olof  Thorson,  secretary;  Miss 
Gerda  Larson,  financial  secretary;  Miss  Marie  Swenson,  treasurer. 

Various  uncontrollable  changes  during  recent  years,  are  re- 
sponsible for  the  decline   in   membership  of  these  organizations. 


1 

a.  *J& 

8 

ImULo 

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iitl 

w     ^      aA      «AV  IK 

THE  Aim. I   I  |<     \sso<  l  VI  Ki\ 


Publication  Committee 


s  Wll  II.  I..   ANDERSON 


('..    FIU'.I)    PETERSON 


LEON  Mil)    ANDERSON 


II.  .1.  ERICKSON 


The  Jubilee  Program,  January  8-16,  1928 


FIRST  SUNDAY  AFTER  EPIPHANY,  JANUARY  8 

9:30  A.M.  —  Sunday  School 
Special  singing  by  the  School. 
The  Scripture  Lesson  by  Dorothy  Sutherlund. 
Recitation,  "My  Church"  by  Aileen  Kallerud. 
Address  by  Rev.  P.  Arthur  Johnson. 

10:45  A.M.  —  Holy  Communion 

Prelude,  "Requiescat  in  Pace"  Sowerby 

Hymn   !)2    (Processional.     The   congregation    rises   and   joins    in 
singing  at  stanza  3). 

Opening  Sentence. 

'I  be  Communion  Exhortation. 

The  Liturgy  (The  Common  Service). 

Rev.  P.  Arthur  Johnson  and  the  pastor. 

The  Epistle.  Romans  12:  1-."). 

Hymn  488. 

The  Gospel,  Luke  2:  42-52. 

'I  he  Apostle's  Creed. 

Anthem,  "How  Lovely  is  Thy  Dwelling  Place"  Brahms 

Hymn  34!)  (omit  stanzas  2  and  3). 

Prayer  and  Response. 

The  Sermon,  by  Rev.   P.  Arthur  Johnson,  President   of  the   As- 
sociation of  English  Churches. 

Anthem,  "I  Am  the  Bread  of  Life"  Matheus 

Remarks. 

Offertory  Solo,  "Ave  Maria"  Rosewig 

u,.. ,,,,.,.  Mrs.  Julia  Rehnstrom 

The  Communion  Liturgy   (Music  ed.  p.  (il(i,  text  ed.  p.  (124). 
Postlude,  "Fantasie  and  Fugue  (i  minor"  Bach 


4:30  P.M.  —  Reunion  of  Confirmation  Classes 
In   the  Central  Church   (The  Old   Immanuel) 
Sedgwick   and    Hobbie    Streets 
Reception,  4:30  to   7:00  o'clock;  Refreshments,  6:00   o'clock; 
Annual   Meeting,   7:00  o'clock;   Program,   7:30   o'clock. 
Mr.  Victor  L.  Erickson,  the  Reunion  President. 
Several  anthems  by  the   Immanuel   Church   Choir. 
Mrs.  Emmy  Evald,  the  principal  speaker. 

Brief  addresses   by    Rev.   E.   K.   Jonson,   Dr.  Julius    Lincoln, 
Rev.  Herbert  W.  Linden,  and  the  pastor. 


TUESDAY,  JANUARY  10 

8:00  P.M.  —  Concert 

Concert  given  by  the  organist  and  choir  director.  Mr.  Carl 

VY.  Broman,  in   appreciation  of  the  gilt   of  a   new  grand   piano. 

installed   by   the    Immanuel    Guild.     Mr.    15.    Fred    Wise,   Tenor, 

assisting.     A  free-will  offering. 


WEDNESDAY,  JANUARY   11 
8:00   P.M.  —   Ladies'  Night 

Sponsored  by  the  Ladies'  Aid  Society,  the  Woman's  Mission 
Society,  and  the  Immanuel  Guild. 

Mrs.  .1.  L.  Forch,  Jr.,  Presiding. 

Mrs.  Emmy  Evald,  the  main  speaker. 

Remarks    by    Mrs.    C.    0.    Bengtson,    Miss    Lillian    Ericsson, 
Sister  Frida  Haff,  Sister  Tillie  Jones,  and  the  pastor. 

Music  by  the  Schubert  Trio  and  Miss  Ella  Rasmussen. 

Vocal  Solos  by  Mrs.  Rudolph  Oden. 

A    free-will    offering.      A    social    hour,    with    refreshments, 
after  the  program. 


86 


The  Jubilee  Program 

THURSDAY,  JANUARY  12  Hymn  500. 

8:00  P.M.  —  Prayer  Service  The  Gospel,  John  2:  1-11. 

Led  by  the  pastor.  The  Apostles'  Creed. 

Anthem,  "Sanctus"  Gounod 

8:30  P.M.  -  Men's  Night  Hymn  „_ 

Under  the  auspices  of  the  Men's  Club.  Pnm>r  .,n(,  Response# 

Mr.  Stuart  Goranson,  presiding.  The  Sermon   by  I)r   G   A    Brandelle,  President  of  the  Augustana 

Mr.  David  P.  Chindblom,  the  main  speaker.  Svnod 

Brief  addresses   by   Mr.   Albert    B.   Anderson,   Mr.   Victor    L.  Anthem,  "Cherubim  Seng"  Bortnyanskv 

l-.riekson,  and  Mr.  P.  Martin  Granstrom.  n,,,,,.,-!,., 

iieniai  ks. 

Vocal  Solos  by  Mr.  Archer  Ballantme.  Offertorv 

Organ  numbers  by  Mr.  Carl  W.   Broman.  Praver 

A    free-will    offering.      A    social    hour,    with    refreshments,  Doxoi0gy  664   (Congregation  standing), 

after  the  program.                  Thc  Genera]    Rrayer      Th(,    P()n,,s   pr;iy(,r 

Hymn  358. 

FRIDAY,  JANUARY   13  The  Benediction. 

8:00  P.M.  —  Young  People's  Night  Postlude,  "Conceit    Variations"   Bonnet 

The    Luther    League,    the    Cleaners,    and    thc    Mission    Baud 

cooperating.  3:30   P.M.  —  Jubilee   Rally   Service 

Mr.  Harold  T.  Nelson,  presiding.  Prelude.  "Festival  Prelude  on  'Kin  Feste  Burg'"                 Faulkes 

Rev.  Herbert  W.  Linden,  speaker.  Hymn  204   (Processional.      The  congregation    rises  and  joins   in 

Pageant    presenting    Immanuel    history,    prepared    by     Miss  singing  at  stanza  3). 

Lillian  Ericsson  in  consultation  with  Mrs.  Emmy  Evald.  The  Scripture   Lesson   and   Prayer,  by   Dr.  Peter  Peterson. 

A    free-will    offering.      A    social     hour,    with    refreshments,  Anthem.  "Build    Thee  More  Stately   Mansions"                      Andrews 

alter  the  program.  Remarks. 

Hymn  271. 

SECOND  SUNDAY  AFTER  EPIPHANY,  JANUARY   15  Address,  by  Rev.  Philip  G.  Thelander  of  Batavia.  Illinois. 

0:30  A.M.  -  Sundav  School   with  festive  program  Sol°-  "In    M*   Fathers   House"                                                MacDermid 

Address   by   Mr.  Samuel   L.   Anderson.  Ml"  John   Pedderson,   Baritone. 

Address,  by  Rev.  Daniel  Nystrom  ol  Jamestown,  New    iork. 

10:45  A.M.  —  Jubilee  Morning  Worship  Anthem,  "The  Heavens  are    Telling"  from  "The  Creation"  Haydn 

Prelude,  "Choral  Prelude  on  the  tune'  'St.  Kilda'"  Noble  Offertory,  "A   Fountain   Reverie"  • Fletcher 

Hymn  273   (Processional.     The  congregation   rises  and  joins   in  Prayer. 

singing  at  stanza  3).  Hymn  261.     (The  congregation  standing). 

Opening  Sentence.  The  Benediction,  by  Dr.  E.  G.  Chinlund. 

The  Liturgy  (The  Common  Service).  Postlude.  "Sonata    II.   first    movement"   Borowski 

Rev.  Daniel  Nystrom  and  the  pastor.  A  social  hour  and  refreshments.      The   refreshments  served. 

The  Epistle,  Romans  12:  6-16.  at  a  nominal  sum  by  the  Home  Circle. 


The  Jubilee  Program 


87 


8:00   P.M.  —  Jubilee   Evensong 

Preludes,  "Choral  Prelude,  'Rejoice,  Ye  Pure  in  Heart'"  Sowerby 

"Will  o'  the  Wisp"  Nevin 

"Sun rise"       Grieg-Fricker 

Hymn  W'll  (Processional.  The  congregation  rises  and  joins  in 
singing  at  stanza  3). 

The  Liturgy.     (The  Common  Service  Vespers). 

Anthem.  "How  Lovely  is  Thy  Dwelling  Place"  Brahms 

Remarks. 

Anthems,  "Jesus  Friend  of  Sinners"  Grieg 

"Hosanna"  Christiansen 

The  Sermon,  by  Dr.  Peter  Peterson,  President  of  the  Illinois 
Conference. 

Anthem,  "Gloria"  from  the  "Twelfth  Mass"  Mozart 

Offertory  Solo,  "Today,  If  Ye  Will  Hear  His  Voice"  Rogers 

Mr.  John   Pedderson 

Prayer. 

Hymn  361.     (The  congregation  standing). 

The  Closing  Liturgy. 

Postlude,  "Tocatta  from  the  V  Symphony"  Widor 


MONDAY,  JANUARY   16th 

7:00  P.M.  —  Jubilee  Banquet  at  the  Edgewater  Beach  Hotel 

Toastmaster,  The  Pastor. 

America  Audience 

Invocation  Dr.  Peter  Peterson 

Address  Rev.   E.   K.  Jonson 

Address Dr.  Gustav  A.  Andreen,  Pres.  Augustana  College 

Greeting  Swedish  Consul,  Mr.  Bo  Ribbing 

Remarks  Mr.  Edward  E.  Erickson,  Treasurer,  Bldg.  Fund. 

Remarks  and  Burning  of  the  Mortgage    (figurately)    Mr.  Walter 
A.  Goranson. 

Doxology  Audience 

Benediction  Dr.  E.  G.  Chinlund 

Singing  by  Mr.  John   Pedderson,  baritone,  and   instrumental 
numbers  by  Miss  Beulah  Rosene  and  Mr.  Carl  \V.  Broman. 


Appointed 

by  the 

Congregation 


Anniversary  Committee 

Rev.  C.  O.  Bengtson,  Chairman 
C.  F.  Peterson,  Publication 
W.  A.  Goranson,   Banquet,  Publicity 
j    Samuel  L.  Anderson,  Publication 
H.  J.  Erickson,  Publication 
Dr.  P.  Wm.  Thorelius,  Banquet 
{  Leonard    Anderson,    Scc'y.    and    Pub. 

Sunday  School Geo.  H.  Nelson 

Ladies'  Aid Mrs.  J.  L.  Porch,  Jr.,  Banquet 

Woman's    Mission    Society,    Mrs.  C.  O.  Bengtson,  Publication 

Immanuel   Guild Lillian  M.  Ericsson 

Choir Oscar  F.  Johnson,  Banquet 

Luther  League Edw.  Svvanson 

Mission  Band  and  Gleaners.  Edla  Magney,  Photographs 

Confirmation   Reunion Victor  L.  Erickson,  Publicity 

Men's  Club Stuart  Goranson 

Home   Circle Edw.  E.  Erickson,  Banquet 


PR  I  NT  ED    BY 

Harold  O.  Windahl 

CH  I  CAGO.    I  LL. 
1  928 


KW-wV'<WWSWJ 


UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS-URBANA 


3  0112  031887190 


